Understanding local need

Our audiences

Working with the network of physical activity providers, clubs, NGBs and system partners, we aim for Lincolnshire to provide a ‘universal’ physical activity offer that seeks to provide options and opportunities for everyone in Lincolnshire to be more active.

Already active

That is, anyone who wants to move more can access an activity that appeals to them. From experienced cyclists who want to explore the county’s hills, coast and vales to older adults who are seeking a chance to join a walking football club, to children and families who want to play in parks and enjoy our green open spaces.

We want our active population to stay active, they are the greatest ambassadors and advocates for encouraging others to get involved.

Inactive and fairly active

To ensure we are tackling the challenge of inactivity our focus will be on encouraging and providing relevant opportunities for inactive and fairly active people to be more active. For some, an introduction to a leisure center or sports club would be welcomed, for others a health walk and talk will provide them with the support they are seeking.

We are all unique and therefore every individual has their own set of requirements and motivations when it comes to how active they are.

Inequalities

We need to focus more of our efforts supporting audiences that we know face greater barriers to participation:

• People with physical and learning disabilities
• Adults 55+
• Minority ethnic communities
• Lower socio-economic groups
• Women and girls
• People with long term health conditions

Places

Some places in Lincolnshire have more active populations than others. The easier the access to options to be active, the more likely people are to being active.

The rural nature of Lincolnshire means that for some residents, currently accessing any organized sport and physical activity requires a journey to be made by car (or public transport).

Investment decisions are often based on population density; therefore, the more rural areas are less likely to see investment.

The governments ‘levelling up’ agenda and investment through Towns Deals and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund provide an opportunity to readdress this, working with communities to understand what they need.

Some of our rural communities provide good access to options to be active, as this quote about Woodhall Spa evidences:

“Jubilee Park swimming pool and fitness suite is great. It’s local, the people are friendly, the opening hours fit around my caring and work commitments and it offers a great range of classes… thank goodness for the charity that runs it.” Lincolnshire resident