Agenda item

The new Surrey Health and Wellbeing Strategy’s aim of developing a whole system approach to physical activity provides a huge possibility to create a step change and really move at pace and scale. It will require multi-agency buy-in, including support at the highest levels, as explained in this paper.

Witnesses:

Campbell Livingston, Director – Active Surrey

Richard Gray, Chair – Active Surrey

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The Director of Active Surrey provided the Board with an overview of the work being undertaken by the organisation. He explained that Active Surrey’s role was to work with partners at a local level to try and influence the development of physical activity in Surrey. Physical activity sat clearly within the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and was explicitly mentioned in Priority 1 while also having an important role to play in Priorities 2 and 3. The Director went on to say that the launch of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy coincided with significant changes nationally, and these had enabled Active Surrey to focus more of its resources at a local level. He spoke about the impact made by such initiatives as the Surrey Youth Games, Physically Active Learning in Surrey Schools and Get Active 50+, as well as the work that was taking place with partners and schools throughout the county.

2.    The Board heard from the Chair of Active Surrey, who explained that only a quarter of children in Surrey were meeting Chief Medical Officer physical activity guidelines. He said that better connections between organisations needed to be developed, as well as an understanding that physical activity should be seen as a key priority.

3.    A Member of the Board said that data showed, in socio-economic terms, which population groups needed to be concentrated on and that it should form the basis of any strategy. However, the Board needed to be careful with the way it communicated otherwise it would run the risk of looking as if it was preaching.

4.    A discussion was had about better engagement with schools, with the Director of Active Surrey saying that they were largely reliant on the interest of head teachers. He went on to tell the Board that he hoped the new OFSTED inspection framework, which took a more holistic views of schools, would help them to greater influence governors, teachers and parents.

5.    Discussion turned to the important role played by the Surrey Youth Games and Surrey School Games in helping the organisation engage with communities and schools. This engagement helps to ensure children gain an interest in physical activity from an early age. A Member of the Board informed those present that he had noticed the level of physical activity in young women was particularly low and that what was currently being done worked well for those residents that were taking part but that there needed to be a greater emphasis on those who were not physically active.

6.    A Member of the Board spoke about the important role played by employers in helping to increase physical activity amongst members of staff. Incentives needed to be offered and greater leadership shown by such organisations.

7.    It was agreed that Joanna Killian, Chief Executive of Surrey County Council, would act as the Health and Wellbeing Board’s champion for a whole system approach to physical activity.

Actions/further information to be provided:

None.

Resolved:

The Health and Wellbeing Board:

1.    Noted the direction of travel in national government policy in relation to sport/physical activity and the role of Active Surrey as the lead agency locally.

2.    Considered the best practice examples from across the country that have developed a whole system approach to physical activity, and the policy, governance and delivery changes that made it happen, and discussed how this might best work in Surrey.

3.    Committed to supporting a whole system approach to physical activity and agreed a sponsor/champion from the Health and Wellbeing Board to help take this forward.