Greater Manchester partnership to tackle inequalities renewed

We've once again refreshed our unique partnership with GM Moving as our collective work to tackle health inequalities in Greater Manchester continues.

Our chief executive Tim Hollingsworth and executive director for place Lisa Dodd-Mayne were in Leigh on Friday to renew the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between us and the region's active partnership, which we first signed in 2016 and last refreshed in 2019.

Over the last decade, communities, organisations and institutions in Greater Manchester have worked together as a ‘movement for movement’ to deliver active lives for all, with our support.

GM Moving published its strategy, GM Moving in Action, three years ago and the growing evidence and energy seen and felt around it show that progress is being made.

Before the pandemic, Greater Manchester was reducing inactivity twice as quickly as the national rate, while independent research found that devolution was leading to broad improvements in health outcomes.

The region has since shown signs of a faster recovery than the national average and inactivity rates have stabilised.

But local leaders and partners are clear that there is lots of work still to be done, with 28% of people doing less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week.

"The evident positive progress made across Greater Manchester is testament to working in partnership towards one shared goal: a more active city-region, with better health for all," said Tim. 

"Change does not come overnight and there is still much work to do. That’s why Sport England is not only celebrating the impact of our existing relationship with GM Moving but reaffirming our commitment for the years ahead, to continue tackling health inequalities and boosting sport and activity levels for the people of Greater Manchester."

The impact of GM Moving is giving local leaders increasing confidence in the region’s approach to delivering better health through designing movement and physical activity back into life.

NHS Greater Manchester have committed to the delivery of the strategy, agreeing earlier this year to extend their partnership with GM Moving with a £2m investment over the next three years.

The Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership strategy has an explicit focus on risk reduction and prevention and supporting physical activity as part of a social model for health.

The shift aligns with our 10-year Uniting the Movement vision to transform lives and communities through physical activity and sport, as well as the new government’s ambitions on health and prevention.

The updated MoU was signed during a celebratory event at Leigh Sports Village.

Representatives of the partnership also visited the town's bike library, the largest in Greater Manchester, which has loaned out more than 200 bikes since its launch in April 2023, with 45% of bikes being purchased by users at the end of their loan period.

GM Moving's chief executive, Hayley Lever, said: "Growing relationships, building trust and spreading different ways of working is key. It takes time and care. It’s why these long-term approaches are so important to making change happen for current and future generations.

"Whether it’s GP staff literally walking side by side with patients or local community organisations and social enterprises, led by experts with experience, helping leisure staff to make activities more inclusive for disabled users – we all have a role to play.

"Creativity is crucial and runs through all the work. Like creative activity in schools and creative facilitation of citizen involvement and solutions, such as the work of GM Moving partners to respond to violence against women and girls that stops many from feeling safe and free to move about our streets.

"Together we are creating the conditions for lasting change: giving everyone the tools, insight, resources and freedom to go where the greatest need and opportunity is, delivers for Greater Manchester."