ACTIVE BLACK COUNTRY MARKS ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

As Active Black Country celebrates its first anniversary as an independent organisation on 1 May, here’s an update on how the partnership is increasing its efforts to maximise the opportunities for local people to be physically active.

In a significant year of growth since leaving its hosting relationship, changes to the board and a restructuring of the executive team have taken place, with seven new staff appointed.

“This is an important moment for us as we continue to work towards delivering our Creating an Active Black Country strategy to tackle the inequalities that prevent local people from being active,” said Amanda Tomlinson, Active Black Country chair.

“Working collaboratively with all our partners, we are more committed than ever to ensuring everyone in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton are given the opportunities to lead a healthy lifestyle.”

The anniversary caps a busy first year for the Active Black Country team, who have worked closely with partners to deliver a series of exciting projects across the four local authorities to empower people to become more active. Additionally, a range of new initiatives are currently underway with others launching soon.

Among the year’s highlights was the presentation of a report in Parliament in January of Speedo Swim United and Active Black Country’s pop-up pool initiative, which brought temporary pools to seven schools in the region and positively impacted pupils swim ability and classroom behaviours.

Other projects such as Phase 3 of our Opening Schools Facilities programme, the first Aquatics Sports Showcase at Sandwell Aquatics Centre and a raft of cycling, walking and water safety events held at Merry Hill have also been very well received.

Together with partners and funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Inclusive Communities Fund, Active Black Country is delivering its inaugural Water Safety Programme for thousands of children who attend 80 schools across the region, a scheme launching in June.

As a newly independent body, Active Black Country has been able to step up its support for schools and community organisations thanks to a greater level of funding from Sport England’s Commonwealth Active Communities Fund and grant awards from the likes of the Department for Education to invest in the Opening School Facilities programme.

All of these funding streams are allowing Active Black Country to drive transformational change, helping to increase activity levels across the least active to support good mental and physical wellbeing in the local authority areas where it is most needed.