Earlier this month I was delighted to have been invited to a Parliamentary event, which took place at the House of Commons. The event aimed to share the story so far of Levelling Up in Essex, highlighting why Essex County Council is committed to closing the gap between those with opportunities and those without. Focusing on six levelling up places, and specific cohorts of people such as working families and unemployed young people, the Levelling Up work in Essex is well underway, with a lot more to come.
Cllr McKinlay, Essex County Council Deputy Leader said; “Levelling up Essex is not something that can be achieved overnight or by the Council alone. It is about long-term systemic change and must have the support of local and cross sector partnerships, as well as communities themselves to be a success.”
For me, I couldn’t agree more. We’ve learnt that to achieve transformational change, we must test and embed new ways of working, to achieve a fundamental shift in the way that systems operate, setting the principles and methodologies for future collaboration in Essex. Our Essex Local Delivery Pilot is directly aligned to Levelling Up, using system change and place based working to engage the most inactive and disadvantaged communities in Essex. The LDP created the right conditions for initial Levelling Up investment of £493,000 in seven physical activity initiatives in Basildon and Tendring that responded to the needs of these places and is providing training for local people to enhance their skills and opportunities.
Angel Cogger from ATF spoke passionately at the Parliamentary event. She highlighted to MPs the impact of the support she has received from ATF, one of Active Essex’s locally trusted organisations. ATF helped Angel through a difficult time in her life, and then offered her the opportunity to learn new skills so she could work effectively with young people and their families. Angel is an excellent example of how Levelling Up can spread opportunity, as she has progressed from a volunteer with ATF to a paid qualified coach helping disadvantaged young people lead more active and healthier lives.
I’m pleased that we are being proactive about Levelling Up here in Essex, and that physical activity is seen as an important part of the work. Active Essex has ambitious and exciting plans for place based expansion over the coming years, and I am positive that these plans are directly aligned with the future aspirations for Levelling Up in Essex. Exciting times ahead!
Take a look at the One Year On Levelling Up Essex, Impact Report here.
