More than £265,000 has been secured for Harlow from Sport England as part of its Place Partnership Programme. The funding will be used in the town to raise physical activity levels and address inequalities that prevent people from being active.
The investment was secured following a joint application by Active Essex, Harlow Council, Rainbow Services, and West Essex Health & Care Partnership. The application identified Harlow as an important area to revitalise local communities through physical activity, movement and sport. Organisations will work together to understand the issues and barriers facing people to get active and develop local solutions.
Funding will be invested into leadership and networking, evaluation and learning, and delivering projects. There will be a range of projects promoting active, healthy and inclusive lifestyles until the end of March 2025. Projects include the launch of Essex Pedal Power Harlow which will provide eligible residents with a free bicycle. Families will also be able to take part in Cycle. Create. Move. This will offer movement and creativity sessions, delivered from cargo bikes in Bishopsfield and The Stow starting in October half-term.
There will be more exciting opportunities for residents, community groups and stakeholders to get involved in as the work progresses. The Harlow Stakeholder Group is open to all organisations involved in physical activity or broader health and wellbeing delivery. By joining the group you will be informed of up-to-date news and available opportunities that your organisation could take part in, including participating in funded projects. To join the group please contact: danielle.warnes@essex.gov.uk.
Councillor Danielle Brown, Harlow Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Community and Wellbeing, said:
“Harlow Council is committed to supporting a healthier future for our residents by addressing inequalities and creating new physical activity opportunities. This significant investment, which we have worked hard with our partners to secure from Sport England, is an opportunity to focus on supporting residents to be physically active. One of our missions is to protect our communities and this will help create many health and wellbeing benefits for our town. There are some very exciting opportunities that this project will deliver. We are very much looking forward to working with all partners to deliver this programme and we hope there is more funding to come.”
Danielle Warnes, Active Essex Relationship Manager (West Essex), said:
“We are passionate about encouraging residents to foster connections and increase activity levels, which will have a lasting impact across the town. Place-based working is at the heart of our work, which ensures opportunities are co-designed with residents. We know that sport and physical activity has the power to unite communities, and we’ve learnt this through our work with the Essex Local Delivery Pilot.”
Kelly Tarling, Project Lead from Rainbow Services, said:
“Rainbow Services are delighted to be involved in the delivery of this exciting new opportunity for Harlow residents. The development phase is crucial in gathering data and evidence of need, so that the full investment can be awarded to Harlow, to help to tackle the barriers that people face to moving more and improving their health and wellbeing.”