Active Sussex launches its new five year strategy: Getting Sussex Moving

Active Sussex unveiled its new five year Getting Sussex Moving strategy at its networking event today (March 7).

The strategy lays out what the organisation plans to focus on with its partners to help ensure everyone across Sussex has the ability to access the health and wellbeing benefits of being active. 

Particular emphasis was placed on working with young people, older people, people with disabilities and long-term health conditions, and people from diverse backgrounds – all groups that research shows find it harder to be active.

Partners attending the event ranged from councils and the education sector through to leisure centres and small independent charities.

During the event, the partners were asked to pledge support to the new five year strategy and discuss how they could work together to benefit Sussex residents.

Sadie Mason MBE, CEO of Active Sussex, said: “We were delighted to see so many of our partners attend the networking event and pledge their support to our five year Getting Sussex Moving strategy.

“It is essential we work together so that everyone in Sussex is able to be physically active when they wish – whether that be through traditional sport, an exercise class, or introducing more activity into their everyday life.

“At a time when the cost of living remains high, it’s good to know that just going for a short walk can help contribute positively to one’s physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. 

“Anything we can collectively do to encourage our communities to be more active is welcomed through this strategy.”

To help launch the Getting Sussex Moving strategy, a group of street dancers funded by Active Sussex surprised 80 partners with a performance at the networking event held at the AMEX stadium in Brighton.

The Y.E.S Project (Youth Empowered by StreetDance) is a collaboration between the DanceHub CIC and the Hangleton & Knoll Project (HKP) to provide opportunities for inactive young people from deprived backgrounds through street dance. 

The project, which now has groups set up across Brighton and Crawley, is just one of the projects that has received funding from Active Sussex’s Children and Young People Investment Fund. 

Street dancer Lucie Hale, 13, said: “The Y.E.S Project has made me more confident about performing in front of people and gives me the chance to be a part of a team.” 

If you would like to see the Y.E.S Project dancers in action, they will be taking to the stage for Let’s Dance Brighton on Friday, March 17 at the Brighton Dome. Tickets are available here: https://brightondome.org/event/31502/lets_dance_2023/

You can read more about the Getting Sussex Moving strategy here.