Impact Report 2023

Forewords

As always, a massive thank you to all those we work with in our efforts to get more people active in our fantastic county of Northamptonshire. That begins with those who volunteer - ultimately it is the coaches, instructors, lifeguards, safety crews, marshals, referees, officials and community activators who make the difference. They are the unsung heroes who give up their time to help other people get or stay active.

Our thanks continue with the people in the organisations we collaborate with. The aim is to create ‘system wide’ change in the county around us, making the opportunity to be active much easier to grasp hold of, for everybody regardless of age, gender, economic or ethnic background. We’re really pleased that partners within the public, private and

voluntary sectors share that ambition with us and are grateful for all their efforts.

The last twelve months has seen so many great pieces of work begin, continue or come to a conclusion. This report aims to show just a snapshot –much as we’d like to it can’t possibly cover everything. Work with and in schools continues apace, shifting focus even more to children who need a little extra help to support their active lifestyles. Efforts in local communities to support physical activity and sport carries on, with so much being learnt along the way. And long-standing partnerships within the health system also progresses, with efforts becoming more and more focused on those who live with the greatest inequalities. The third ‘cog’ of our work, the drive

to create new sources of sustainable funding also continues. This report outlines just a few of the highlights from some of those areas.

Looking forward, with the continued support of our national funders and local partners, there are so many opportunities ahead of us. We look forward to another twelve months of progress and impact!

Chris Holmes Chief Executive Northamptonshire Sport

I’m really pleased to be writing my first Foreword for the Northamptonshire Sport Impact Report. Having only taken up the role of Chair in May this year I sincerely thank our previous Chair, Steve Adams, who looked after the Board for the period of this report, achieving so much. I am really passionate about getting people to move more and particularly how we impact those in our community for whom the barriers to be active are higher such as women and girls, older people, people from ethnically diverse communities, people with a disability and those from more challenging socio-economic backgrounds.

As Chair of Northamptonshire Sport there are three initial things I am keen to work on. Firstly, is to make sure that we have good governance in place and that the

Foreword

Board is working collegiately to ensure good oversight. Secondly, is to ensure that the Board is accessible to staff and external partners. And thirdly, is to help raise the profile of Northamptonshire and showcase on national level all the great work that partners collaborate on in our efforts to help people be more active.

This report lays out just some of the work that Northamptonshire Sport do. It is just a glimpse of what goes on across the county, but I hope it gives you enough of an insight to want to join us as we seek to make a real difference in our county. Thanks to you all.

Professor Peter Jones Chair, Northamptonshire Sport

Whilst the latest data is positive for Northamptonshire, adults in the county remain less active than the national average. The survey found that, 63.1% of adults in England are active for 150+ minutes each week. In comparison, 61.4% of adults in Northamptonshire are meeting the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) guidelines.

Percentage of inactive people by locality

The proportion of adults across Northamptonshire achieving 150+ minutes of physical activity rose above pre-pandemic (2019/20) levels. This is the first full year of data since November 2018/19 that had no interruptions due to Covid-19, and although it shows a positive return to pre-pandemic activity levels for adults, there are areas of concern, these include:

• Adults with a disability or long term health condition have seen activity levels recover but remain significantly lower than those with no disability.

• Significant inequalities remain in activity levels between some minority ethnic groups.

Our vision and strategy

Northamptonshire Sport is one of 43 Active Partnerships (APs) set up by Sport England in 2003/4.

An Active Partnership’s fundamental job is to support people’s health and wellbeing by encouraging more physical activity and/or sport. We operate across Northamptonshire, a county of 785,200 residents with a wide range of socio-economic groups and significant health inequalities across the population.

Our vision is “By 2024 to be a high performing charitable organisation having a demonstrable impact on physical inactivity in Northamptonshire”. We will do this by:

Strengthening our sector leading work with schools and education to embed healthy, active, lifestyles from the earliest age

Working even more closely with our communities to understand need, build partnerships, develop services and create the conditions for active lifestyles

Developing a more commercial approach by delivering events, managing locations, facilitating activity hubs and exploring new funding channels which, all combined, will significantly increase our ability to improve the personal wellbeing of the people in Northamptonshire

Highlights (2022/23)

Active Communities and Health

• 56 organisations supported with £160,000 of funding through the Together Fund.

• 379 participants joined the community ‘Get Up & Go’ falls prevention programme. 95 participants joined the enhanced version - ICAN Get Up & Go.

• 39 people attended the free training course and 19 volunteer placements were secured for The Volunteer Coaching Academy.

• 2057 referrals to the Activity On Referral scheme across 14 sites, of those 1480 started and 1022 completed the 12 week programme.

• £26,904 of funding secured for 19 sports clubs in Northamptonshire from the Mick George Fund.

Active Schools and Education

• 96% of schools engaged with the School Games, with 724 competitions/festivals/events, in over 30 sports, with a total attendance of 40,852.

• 84,396 places booked on the Holiday Activity and Food programme, with 59,085 attendances recorded, from 4000 children.

• 56 schools supported with over £70,000 through the Opening School Facilities (OSF) programme, supporting the establishment of after-school activities.

Commercial and Business Development

• 3,648 people took part in open water swimming at our venues at Sywell and Daventry Country Parks.

• 2,068 people attended our 2022 event programme.

• 40-acres of specialist Mountain Bike Park opened in October 22, welcoming cyclists from Northamptonshire and beyond.

Image credit: Adrenaline Alley

Active Schools, Education and Young People

We believe that every child and young person has the right to be active, to benefit from being active in a safe, positive and trusted environment, and to have an equal chance to achieve their potential. Positive experiences at an early age help build the foundations

for an active life. Through our schools, education and young people work, we provide positive experiences that feel fun, increase confidence and encourage young people to want to be active in the future.

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme

With our partners, we deliver the government funded HAF programme in Northamptonshire.

Known locally as HAF Northants, the funded school holiday clubs ensure that disadvantaged children, young people and families have access to healthy food and enriching activities throughout holiday periods.

Over the 2022 summer and winter school holidays, HAF Northants has:

84,396 bookings

84,396 bookings made to attend camps through the programme

59,085 attendances

59,085 attendances recorded from over 4000 children and young people

HAF School Holidays at Adrenaline Alley

Adrenaline Alley is one of 58 activity providers taking part in the HAF Northants programme to offer school holiday help to those families that need it most.

Set out over a 6-acre site, Adrenaline Alley is the largest action sports venue in Europe. With over 120,000 sq. ft. of skatepark areas, the size of the facility allows for numerous different zones, suitable for all styles and ability levels.

By participating in HAF Northants, Adrenaline Alley has been able to offer fun, exciting and action packed 4.5 - hour

What the parents think

sessions on a BMX, skateboard, scooter, or inline/quad skates at no charge.

The sessions supported regular visitors to be more active by attending more often. Also, more young people visited for the first time and tried action sports.

A free healthy hot meal was part of the package. As HAF attendees collected their meals, aspects of food education were incorporated.

120 spaces were provided over 8 days of the Easter school holidays.

“I love it, it’s so good, and the kids love it, they get really worn out. I would never have been able to afford to bring all the kids here without HAF so to have the scheme is really good. It gives them something to do, especially when the weather’s bad as most of the facility is inside. Yeah… we love it!”

Mrs Jade Fletcher

School Games

We continue to be at the forefront nationally with our innovations and approaches to physical education, physical activity and sport in schools. This extends from strategy to structures, operations and delivery.

One of the key enablers in achieving our ambitions to become a national exemplar for PE and school sport is to support schools to deliver the absolute best curricular, extra-curricular and community-link offer they can by guiding, advising and challenging schools through bespoke, face-to-face support for senior leadership teams, PE teachers and PE coordinators. We do this via our School Strategic Leads, who have a specific responsibility to work

with schools on a one-to-one or cluster level, identifying issues and finding solutions. The Northamptonshire School Games is a big part of our work with schools, and part of a national programme of competitive sport that is open to all young people in every school across Northamptonshire. The Games are a celebration of competitive sport for young people aged 5 - 18 years, of all abilities and backgrounds.

Across the county we provided the 5 School Sport Partnerships

• 184 intra school competitions/ festivals/events using School Games formats with 8,761 attendances

• 203 intra school competitions/ festivals/events using non–School Games format with 10,882 attendances

• 243 inter school competitions/ festivals/events using School Games formats with 11,764 attendances

• 94 inter school competitions/ festivals/events using non School Games formats with 9,445 attendances

Young Leaders Programme

In addition to our work in schools, we deliver leadership training for children of all ages. Much of our inclusive competition, festival and event programme is delivered in-person by young people we have trained as officials, organisers, referees and timekeepers.

We run young leadership training and development opportunities in primary and secondary schools, through tailored programmes such as real leaders, primary school sports crew training, leadership academies and the ‘Step into Sport’ programme for children with special educational needs.

Young people are provided with training on leadership skills and many also receive sports-specific training, enabling them to lead at events like the annual School Games, with over 300 young leaders helping deliver the event.

Project focus: Leadership Academies

With a full events programme planned for the academic year, our School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) aimed to reinvigorate the sports leadership offering at three secondary schools by focusing on year 7 to 8 pupils.

This is a younger age group than the typical year 9 to 10 leadership programme. The objective was to support the transition of the year 7 pupils and help them to develop positive relationships with other pupils, whilst also growing their confidence and competence.

The three schools began their 12week Leadership Academies training from mid-September 2022. At the first half term point the leaders undertook specific workshops around communication, STEP principles of leadership, multi-skills training, inclusion and first aid. After completing

the training sessions, all academies led weekly key stage 1 (KS1) athletics festivals during the second half term.

Establishing a Leadership Academy over a sustained period has a positive outcome for the students as well as for the quality of the events. We found the KS1 events were a fantastic platform for developing confidence and interpersonal skills which are so valuable to young people and future leaders.

Active Communities and Health

Much of our work with communities is underpinned by our strong relationships with local partners. Our long-standing connections with health partners are extensive and cover work such as social prescribing, Activity on Referral (AOR), specialist referral pathways, falls prevention and weight management.

We continue to develop new relationships with partners, working with people in lower socio-economic groups, older people and people with long term conditions through our hotspots and Together Fund work.

Partnership working

Northamptonshire Black Communities Together (NBCT)

In partnership with NBCT a new forum called ‘Northamptonshire

Black Communities Moving Together’ was launched in December 2022 to support ethnically diverse communities to be more active in Northamptonshire.

Through the monthly forum, leading organisations provide opportunities across Northamptonshire for Asian, African Caribbean, and African communities to become more active

and improve wellbeing. The forum will also be focusing on changing behaviours, tackling inequalities and removing the barriers that prevent the Black community from leading more active lifestyles.

To launch the forum, Black organisations were invited to apply for funding and six grants were awarded totalling £19,827, supporting members of the community increase physical activity.

Together Fund

The ‘Together Fund’ (TF) is a continuation of Sport England’s ‘Tackling Inequalities Fund’ (TIF) that was set up in April 2020 as part of a support package to help the sport and physical activity sector through the Covid-19 crisis.

Insight found that some groups were being disproportionately affected by the pandemic and it was significantly impacting their ability to be physically active.

Like TIF, the Together Fund focuses on helping to remove the barriers that prevent some groups of people from leading more active lifestyles. These barriers can be financial, geographical or cultural.

Our role has been to connect this Sport England funding to where it’s most needed locally, utilising our expertise, connections and local insight.

During this latest round of funding over £160,000 has been awarded to 56 organisations in Northamptonshire.

Northants Activity on Referral (AOR)

AOR is a countywide referral programme for inactive adults who are overweight or living with a health condition. AOR helps people to increase their levels of physical activity in a supportive and structured environment. The service provides health screening, advice and access to exercise, led by qualified exercise professionals.

Health professionals including GPs, practice nurses and social prescribing link workers refer patients to the AOR scheme, based at accredited facilities across Northamptonshire.

Between April 2022 to April 2023 1,022 people completed the AOR programme in the county.

Matthew Boylan

“I was made aware of the scheme via my GP. The referral was very quick and within a couple of weeks I had my first induction meeting with Chris. I just followed the referral process via my GP website, then Chris followed up with a phone call. I used to go to the gym pre pandemic – just a few times a week to keep motivated & healthy.

I recently got diagnosed with having high blood pressure. Being a smoker and

prone to laziness. The referral scheme was a great opportunity to get back into better habits.

The main positive has been the wellbeing – I feel so much better after an hour session. The physical benefits have also been noticeable. I’ve never been active or sporty But I know I have to do some exercise to keep healthy - this experience has meant I want to keep on track and reap the rewards.”

Scan

With thanks to our partners Trilogy

Place-based ‘hotspot’ work

Much of our resources are focused on working in priority geographical areas in Northamptonshire where persistent and long-standing physical activity inequalities exist.

Also known as ‘hotspots’, we work in partnership with the community in these areas to build local capacity, lever in partnership, funding and identify opportunities for change in the current system that will support the community to be active.

Each area is supported by a member of our team. Working alongside local leaders and groups to create trust, influence and champion physical activity whilst creating social action to build on the existing assets in the area.

The hotspot communities in

Northamptonshire

Daventry

Towcester

Kettering

Eastfield

Southbrook

Avondale Grange

Kingswood

Rushden

Victoria

Oundle

Corby

Wellingborough

Northampton

Case study

Kingswood, Corby

The Kingswood Estate in Corby is ranked second in Northamptonshire in terms of Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) measure, which is the official measure of relative deprivation for small areas in England. Kingswood also falls within the top 10% (ranked 440) nationally (IMD Data 2019). In the area, 25 % of the population are young people, aged under 16 years. Crime rates are higher than the East Midlands average, particularly youth related antisocial behaviour and there has been an increase in drugs, gang culture and knife crime.

Identified as a ‘Left Behind’ area

Working alongside the people and the existing assets in the community is a key part of our strategy in place-based development work. In Kingswood, these existing assets are:

• Kingswood Neighbourhood Community Centre, run by Linwood Community Cooperative located in the heart of the estate, offering indoor and outdoor space.

• Kingswood and Hazel Leys (KHL) ‘Big Local’ is a key influence in the area. Established in 2012, the KHL Steering Group raise awareness and involve the community in the ‘Big Local’ programme by co-creating community action.

• Corby Olympic Boxing Club is run by volunteer coaches and is open five nights during the week and at the weekend.

How has our placed-based work made an impact?

As part of Covid resilience work, we partnered with Neighbourhood Centre to set up ‘Kingswood Community Support’, providing the community with food and household parcels and access to other services. We supported by providing sports equipment and activity challenges with the food parcels and ran a virtual walking challenge. Following the easing of Covid-19 we changed our strategy to focus on the increased poverty and isolation that were particularly affecting the younger population.

With our partners we developed the Kingswood Urban Development (KUD). A three year ‘Reaching Communities’ £278k funded project to upgrade the existing youth facilities and provide sports, coaching, leadership and volunteering initiatives and appointed a Youth Sport Coordinator to lead on the engagement. The initiative provides much-needed youth provision in the area, including an upgrade to the existing skatepark, a new calisthenic rig, and solar lighting on the multi-use games area. It will

provide a range of sport activities and engagement programmes to encourage young people to be more active and take up volunteering, training and learn employability skills.

Over the past two years, Covid-19 has impacted greatly on the Kingswood community. Pandemic restrictions on activities combined with social isolation have resulted in a reduction in physical activity levels and mental health issues are increasing. The project gives young people opportunities and supports them to develop healthy relationships, whilst engaging in positive activities.

The project will help to improve access and increase usage of the places and spaces where young people meet by improving existing provision. It will also help to restart youth activities in the area, engage and promote local clubs, all of which has been lacking in Kingswood for many years.

Falls Prevention

Falls and falls-related injuries are a common and serious problem for older people. In Northamptonshire around 47,000 people over 65 are at risk of falling each year.

Since 2018, we have been providing a programme of OTAGO exercise, strength and balance classes for people with a history of, or at risk of falling.

Project focus: Get Up & Go and ICAN Get & Go Programmes

Both Get Up & Go programmes complement the Public Health commissioned Falls Assessment and Management Service and the Supporting Independence Programme (SIP), as part of an integrated approach to supporting people to improve their strength and balance and reduce their risk of experiencing injuries.

ICAN Get Up & Go is an enhanced version of the community Get Up & Go classes and is for people who are classed as mild to moderately frail. Unlike the

open community classes, ICAN Get Up & Go is a prescribed programme and is accessible via a referral from a health or social care professional. The weekly classes run over 24 weeks and are free of charge. Typical class formats include:

• An OTAGO strength and balance class

• An ‘Age Well’ educational talk or presentation from an external provider

• Refreshments, social time and peer support

The community GU&G programme completed the year with 34 classes, 379 participants and total weekly participation over the 12 months of 5,065. Whilst the ICAN GU&G had 5 classes, 95 participants and total weekly participation over the 12 months of 878.

ICAN Get Up & Go – My story

Barbara, 87 from Northamptonshire

Barbara has always enjoyed a varied and active lifestyle, she moved to Northamptonshire 59 years ago and raised her family here. Before retiring she was a swimming teacher and previously a dental nurse.

Following a referral Barbara recently joined the ICAN Get Up & Go class based in Duston. Keen to improve her balance and prevent falling and injury, Barbara joined the programme the day she was referred. Since then, she hasn’t looked back and is improving weekly with the help of her determination, instructors and fellow participants. Barbara has gone on to recommend the programme, her friend Val now also attends.

“The medical side of things has improved no end, my balance is much better as is the light headedness. That is all great but I love the social side of things as well. Everyone is so friendly and we make sure we laugh, sense of humour and having fun is as important as the exercises.”

Events

Our annual events programme offers something for all experience levels and abilities, you don’t need to be an athlete to take part. From 5K jogs to competitive triathlons and plenty in between.

We’ve created our events programme to be as welcoming and accessible as possible. Events are part of our work to support Northamptonshire to be happier, healthier and more active county.

Our events

The Northants 5K Series

The Series is a perfect stepping stone to support people from being inactive into regular running, including five trail races, on multi-terrain courses in some of Northamptonshire’s most beautiful places. A higher proportion of women and older people participate in the events, a demographic not typically seen in regular running activities.

Sywell Triathlon Series

The award winning Sywell Triathlon Series includes three sprint triathlons where participants complete a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run, in and around Sywell Country Park. Triathlon England recognised the Series as “enjoyed by beginners and seasoned athletes alike” when they awarded the ‘Small Event of the Year for the East Midlands’ title.

2069 people attended our 2022 event programme.

Open Water Swimming (OWS)

We hold weekly OWS sessions in Northamptonshire from April to September at two locations; Sywell Country Park and Daventry Country Park. The swimming sessions are open to all competent swimmers, those who are new to OWS and people with more experience. Everyone is welcome,

During the 2022 open water swimming season participants swam a total of 5278 times

Other events

• 10K

• Half marathon

• Wellbeing events

• Duathlon

• The Northamptonshire Business Games

Northampton Bike Park

In 2022 we worked with West Northamptonshire Council, Sport England, British Cycling and other partners to transform a former golf course in to a 40 acre specialist mountain bike park.

Our charity manages the day-today operations of Northampton Bike Park. Whilst the park is a free-to-use open facility, two new members our team oversee the development and maintenance of the Bike Park, whilst continuing to collaborate with partners to ensure the site is inclusive, benefitting as many people in the local community as possible, from children to experienced mountain bikers. Maintenance of the park and the habitat surrounding the trails is funded by income generated from car park revenues and donations and with the support of a dedicated group of local volunteers.

The facility offers:

• A multi-user green trail, which is an easy, dual-direction cycle route across

the site, connecting Houghton Hill to the underpass for the A45

• Blue (moderate), red (difficult) and black (severe) off-road mountain bike trails for different abilities with dual tracks which will allow head-tohead riding

• Five gathering spots where riders can meet to discuss the next section of track

• Climb sections – which are uphill sections to test endurance

• A mountain bike skills area

• 13 hectares of ecological habitats

Two thirds of the project’s £750,000 construction cost were provided by West Northamptonshire Council with

£250,000 from Sport England via the ‘Places To Ride fund’ a partnership between Sport England, British Cycling and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Testimonials

“A fun flowy bike park with multiple routes to suit different riders abilities. Great fun for all ages.”

Sean G, Google review

“This park is a jewel in Northamptonshire’s crown of providing recreation for its residents. Something for everyone, from dog walkers, hikers, and of course cyclists of any skills or equipment level. I went on a Monday morning - and pleasantly surprised that many other middle aged and senior citizens were having a go. I am 64 and was on a hybrid bike.”

James Jeffries, Google review

“A great place I can enjoy with my children doing a great activity and it’s cost-free. Amazing!”

Female cyclist, survey response

System Change

To create a more active population we need changes within the ‘system’ around us – strategies, policies, infrastructure and structural reform.

In addition to our programmes, interventions and activities, which themselves are driven by or are creators of changes within the system, we dedicate significant efforts to influencing strategic level changes in our local system:

• Strategies: Leading the work to renew the countywide ‘Physical Activity and Sport Strategy’. Working diligently with the new unitary authorities to navigate their early years, guiding them on creating healthy active community strategies.

• Structures: Persuading the Public Health and Integrated Care System (ICS) to create designated capacity around physical activity. Influencing referral pathways, supporting the Social Prescribing network and creation of specialist pathways (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and cancer).

• Environment: Working with the placeshaping lead within the Public Health team to steer planning policy towards more favourable outcomes for physical activity and sport. Brokering an ‘Active Quarter’ collaboration between The University of Northampton, local authority, leisure trust, heritage asset and Public Health to redefine the way ‘green and blue assets’ are utilised within our county. Supporting active travel through the Cycling and Walking Plans, Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIP) and Emergency Fund projects.

Digital Connection

April 2022 marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for us. We launched our new website and refreshed brand.

The new website was designed with our customers, partners and stakeholders in mind. We made it easier to find events, courses and useful information.

We’ve retained our name Northamptonshire Sport, but we added a new strapline - let’s move together’.

‘let’s move together’ represents more than just physical activity and sport, although it means that too, of course. Our new strapline also reflects our role in Northamptonshire to move, influence and challenge the things preventing some people leading active lifestyles in our county.

‘let’s move together’ also signifies a movement of people, sharing a collective aim and vision.

Our aim is to increase our digital impact in the year to come, but over the last year:

• 78,000 people visited our website

• Our social media content reached 418,000 people