Agenda item

The Board received a detailed presentation by Andy Maddox, Get Doncaster Moving Strategic Lead (DMBC) which outlined in detail the progress of the Get Doncaster Moving (GDM) Strategy following a recent review.  It was noted that GDM was a 10 year strategy to increase levels of physical activity through sport across the Borough and was aimed at achieving the vision of ‘healthy and vibrant communities through physical activity and sport’.

In particular, the presentation covered the following key points:-

·                The key findings of the GDM Strategy Review were summarised;

·                The existing strategic framework was explained, together with the evidence from the existing Strategy for the Early Years (0-5 years), Children & Young People (5 – 18 years), Adults and Families, Older Adults and All Ages cohorts;

·                The successes and challenges experienced in relation to stakeholder engagement;

·                Evidence of what works, together with proposed actions in the shorter and longer terms (identified using system mapping);

·                Key Performance Indicators were summarised, comparing the baseline 2015 figures with the ambition targets that it was hoped would be achieved by 2027;

·                The key learning points and observations from the Strategy review were summarised, together with next steps.

During subsequent discussion, Board members asked questions and made comments on a range of issues highlighted by the presentation, including:-

·                     Phil Holmes stressed the importance of this work which he felt was not only central to health and wellbeing, but also to the Borough’s economic and environmental ambitions and he gave an offer of support to help with amplifying the work being undertaken.

·                In response to a question as to how the GDM work linked with the localities model, Andy Maddox explained that the Well Doncaster team acted as the advocates on the ground, listening to and working with the local communities and bringing intelligence and knowledge back.  He cited as an example the work carried out with Bentley Rugby Club, bidding for money to build a community resource which had resulted in the club facilities now being utilised as a wider community asset.

·                Dr Rupert Suckling commented on the importance of taking a broad approach in order that the sports and physical activity initiatives driven by the Strategy could be embedded in all the domains of locality working.  He added that this approach could also be applied to other strategic areas, such as Arts, Culture and Heritage.

·                Councillor Cynthia Ransome suggested that making activities fun and diversifying away from the traditional sports/exercise activities might motivate and encourage the less active people to participate in certain activities, such as helping on community allotments and litter picking.  In response, Andy Maddox explained that understanding what motivated people was the key to success and he confirmed that initiatives involving allotments and walking/litter picking groups were being undertaken in parts of the Borough.

·                Speaking from a health service perspective, Dr David Crichton explained that it was recognised that ‘exercise on prescription’ could play an important part in encouraging people to take up physical activities to help maintain and improve their general health and wellbeing.  He added that it was also important that all partner organisations represented on the Board led by example in terms of encouraging and supporting their staff and the wider populace to be more active in various ways.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Note the findings of the GDM Strategy Review;

2)    Support the Strategy refresh process and request that the Strategy be brought back to a future meeting of this Board following the refresh exercise; and

3)    Consider how the partner organisations on the Board can champion GDM as a means of improving the health and wellbeing of the Borough’s communities and residents.