Movement for All evaluation report published

The project consisted of insight and intervention pilot schemes led by ten of the group’s charities, in association with Mind, the Activity Alliance and Parkinson’s UK.

Those schemes have now been independently evaluated by Traverse and the results used to form the report, which has been welcomed by our chief executive Tim Hollingsworth.

“It shouldn’t matter that you’re 35 or 65, live with two health conditions or are in perfect health – the right range of opportunities, experiences and support should be available for everyone,” he said.

“That is why I am so proud of our partnership with The Richmond Group of Charities to support those who need our help the most to become and stay active and better manage their conditions.

“This report summarises the innovative and collaborative work of these charities whose projects and partnerships are helping to establish where there are gaps in provision, what works to fill them and what we can all do differently in the future.

“I strongly encourage everyone working in health and sport and activity to take note and act on these recommendations because when we move, we are stronger.”

The report has produced a number of practical tips on:

• delivering and evaluating physical activity projects aimed at people with long-term health conditions
• collaboratively delivering programmes of work
• orchestrating organisational change through the prioritisation and embedding of physical activity into ‘business as usual’ work.

It also features recommendations for Sport England and other funders and commissioners that focus on the need to:

• review how we evaluate similar programmes
• encourage deliverers to make use of existing learning and insight
• commit to developing more appropriate evaluation measures for the audience.

Also included in the report are recommendations for the Movement for All programme and charity partners, which Neil Tester, the Richmond Group of Charities’ director, is keen to implement.

“The evaluation team has uncovered rich learning about the specifics of the projects connected to this programme, as well as about what it takes to collaborate effectively,” said Neil.

“We’ll take on board the recommendations and learning for ourselves. We encourage others to look at the relevant recommendations and we want to work with you, whatever sector you’re in, to enhance your own work supporting people with health conditions to be active.”