Round up of Day 1 of Active London

Six Active London sessions involving more than 20 speakers ensured that the first day of Active London gave the 550 online delegates plenty to consider when it comes to reactivating the capital.

And with plenty more exciting content ready for Day 2, as well as all the content being available on-the Active London platform following the event, there’s still time to register to attend.

Here’s a round-up of Day 1:

Unlocking opportunities for all in London's covid-19 recovery

London’s Recovery Board Co-Chair Georgia Gould highlighted the opportunity for the government to invest in prevention and community support via the grassroots physical activity and sport sector. Professor Kevin Fenton, from Public Health England, spoke of the need to address inequalities of activity levels across London, and the importance of physical activity as a preventative tool as we look to move on from the pandemic.

“We are not at the end of the pandemic, but we have the tools to deal with it, through vaccinations and prevention to look after our health.” – Professor Kevin Fenton (PHE)

Young Londoners in focus: Improving mental wellbeing through activity

Our panel in session two discussed how a holistic approach and adapted mental health friendly activities are important and how engaging young people and understanding their lived experience is key to creating activities that will support both their physical and mental wellbeing.

“67% of young people told us that closure of sport and leisure venues and restrictions on team sports made their mental health worse.” – Hayley Jarvis (Mind)

Reconnecting Londoners to Leisure facilities

Here Active London looked at how public leisure facilities are a really effective way to get communities active, deliver health outcomes and tackle inequalities, but their social value is not yet recognised on a policy or national level.

“Let’s build the leisure sector to make a generational difference in health outcomes.” - Marg Mayne (MyTime Active)

Claire Harvey

Claire was next up in an inspiring session discussing inclusion, diversity and impactful change. Claire shared her London 2012 Paralympics story, and gave delegates some fantastic learning on how to be more inclusive in the physical activity sector.

“We can get so frightened of not getting it right, that we miss the opportunity to co-design, to make the little things better which will soon make a big difference” – Claire Harvey (Paralympian)

The social influence: Using social media to inspire less active Londoners to take action

Our fifth session examined the use of social media to inspire less active Londoners to take action. Panellists highlighted the value in creating a safe space for people to engage with your product and service and community members.

Nothing about them without them

In the final session, Active London discussed community being at the heart of ambitions, creating the right conditions for people to create healthy habits, and the importance of recognising that being active is about more than just being physically active.

“One of our most common findings is that often the smallest things that have made the biggest changes” - Jodie Bridger (Get Moving Doncaster)

Be a part of the conversation shaping the future of sport and physical activity in London. Join us tomorrow for Day Two as we reconnect, reactivate, and rebuild for the better.