The Story of Levelling Up in Essex

In response to the Government strategy on Levelling Up, Tim Hollingsworth (chief executive at Sport England) released a statement acknowledging the vital role sport and physical activity (PA) has to play in Levelling Up agenda. One of the key factors will be making sport and PA a normal part of life for everyone, which is also vital for Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy. There are also wider benefits for society that are provided through sport and PA which are crucial for levelling up: such as connecting communities and creating a sense of pride, reducing social isolation, increasing skills and creating job opportunities and boosting the economy.

ECC has been proactive and were aware of the deprived communities prior to the Levelling Up agenda. ECC acknowledge the service excellence of Active Essex and Sport England programmes and recognise the important contribution sport and PA play in society and can have towards levelling up. The Fit for the Future system strategy and Essex Activate program show Active Essex is already on a journey to level up the health and wellbeing of the County.

The Essex Local Delivery Pilot (LDP) is leading the way in tackling inequalities in deprived areas using place-based solutions, to translate policy into action, with a clear focus on supporting individuals who are inactive. Sport and PA should be something everything has access to, not be exclusive for those less disadvantaged. Levelling Up is about working across the system (collaborating, sharing resources and learning, distributing leadership) to drive change for the people, which is already occurring under the Essex LDP. The “stars have aligned” between the LDP’s core principles and the Levelling Up agenda in Essex. Therefore, the Essex LDP is well positioned for an Essex specific response, using an Essex specific approach, to an Essex specific problem.

Projects are currently being planned (subject to funding) with the support of the Essex LDP, to implement programmes incorporating PA in target areas, to meet the Levelling Up agenda. These projects continue to work across organisations and with the local community, to create place-based solutions.

The Essex LDP will continue the important opportunity to be part of the Levelling Up agenda. Moving forward the Essex LDP want to position themselves to be part of the relevant conversations to ensure PA is hard-wired into Levelling Up work in Essex. To carry on growing the ethos, principles and ways of working that have been developed and share the learning & knowledge of these to other areas. Levelling up is not a transactional process, it is not about central Government doing. Levelling up is about continuing to engage with and understand the needs and wants of the community. It is a long-term hardwiring opportunity, which needs to be part of the fabric of life, reaching every generation. Achieving this will ensure it remains embedded within society once the funding for the current initiatives has long gone.

We would be keen to explore with others who are engaging with the Levelling Up agenda at a local or national level.