Increasing physical activity - it's a leap of faith

DCMS are promoting the theme of phyisical activity this week as part of the sports strategy consultation. David Callan, Communications Officer, blogs about a recent team exercise that brought home the benefits of physical activity for all.

I’m sure it’s not escaped many people’s attention that the Government consultation on a new sports strategy opened recently.

During the consultation period, which finishes on 2 October, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport is doing weekly promotions of the ten themes that make up the consultation paper. This week it focuses on theme two, physical activity.

The paper, when it comes to discussing the thinking on physical activity, also focuses on improving mental health through physical activity and the way partnerships between health and sport professionals operate as well as improving cross-departmental working.

Given this is the theme, I’ve got a nice example of the benefits of physical activity, both from a personal and local partnership perspective.

Staff at the Alliance recently experienced a team-building afternoon session at the Outdoors in the City activity centre in Newham. It was an afternoon full of engaging and fun group activities that exercised our minds as well as our bodies.

The particular highlight for me was climbing up the nine metre totem pole to then make the “leap of faith”, a perilous jump to a trapeze bar dangling away at a temptingly reachable distance. Here's the video to prove it. For those who don't like heights, I made it.



There was also an experience of making my way up a climbing wall and again being supported, literally and audibly, by my colleagues.

After the afternoon’s activities had finished, we had the usual breakdown of our individual lessons and reflections on our experience. What was apparent was just how much everyone enjoyed themselves and the resolve and courage demonstrated when trying out activities that many had never encountered or thought they could conquer before.

During the course of our afternoon’s experience, we found out that the Outdoors in the City centre in Newham came very close to closing recently. Had this been the case, not only would we not have experienced such exhilaration, but an important social and community link to the local area would have been lost. A place where people can come together and get active and improve their health, gone.

Which really brings me on to how this relates to the sports strategy. Encouraging those who are physically inactive to get up and try something new is going to play a major role in creating a healthier nation. To do this, it’s vital that governing bodies, clubs and local authorities work together to:

1.tMake sure the message gets out there so people are aware of the opportunities
2.tEnsure that price and accessibility issues do not act as a deterrent to encouraging participation
3.tTry to keep as many facilities open and operational as possible
4.tOnce people are involved, make sure they keep coming back

Naturally the last point is dependent on the first three factors being successful and I appreciate that meeting these objectives is no simple matter. Which is why the consultation is open, so activity providers and organisations can have their say on how things can work better for the benefit of all.

There’s no doubt in my mind that every member of staff who took part that afternoon felt better physically and mentally for having got out and active and I’d thoroughly recommend it to anybody or organisation looking to try something new. Even if it isn’t climbing, there is an activity out there that you will enjoy.

To have your say on the sports strategy consultation, please click here.

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