Communities in South Holland and North Lincolnshire are set to benefit from a £250 million funding injection from Sport England, in an effort to tackle historically low fitness levels. Emma Tatlow, chief executive of Active Lincolnshire, has drawn attention to physical activity in the county, which has persistently lagged behind the national average. The programme aims to dissect various obstacles discouraging people from exercising and will collaborate with local communities to bring about systemic changes.
Sport England identified that residents in North Lincolnshire’s former industrial areas are susceptible to developing long-term health conditions at an earlier age than individuals in wealthier regions. In more rural communities like South Holland, concerns such as NHS pressures, low workforce engagement, and isolation are intensifying.
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, executive director of place at Sport England, drew attention to the unequal access to fitness resources, while underlining the significant positive effect on the health system, which could potentially save £10.5 billion. The funding will prioritise supporting individuals dealing with disabilities, long-term health conditions, and also target ethnic minorities, women, and girls. David Gent, CEO of Active Humber, commented that the Humber region is one of the least active in England, and this investment will seek to optimise North Lincolnshire’s potential.
While the programme remains in the developmental stages and specific allocations of funding have yet to be confirmed, both Active Lincolnshire and Active Humber are dedicated to engaging with communities to establish where the funds will be best utilised.
This piece was based on original reporting from www.bbc.com.
