Why you should be involved in the Active Sussex Children and Young People (CYP) Forum

Helping children and young people to stay active is about far more than improving physical fitness.

Regular physical activity plays a vital role in building confidence, supporting positive mental health and laying the foundations for healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

That’s why creating the right conditions for children and young people to be active, engaged and listened to is so important and why the Children and Young People (CYP) Forum, led by Active Sussex, plays a crucial role in this work.

The CYP Forum brings together professionals, community leaders and advocates from across Sussex who share a commitment to improving physical activity opportunities for children and young people.

It provides a collaborative space where ideas can be shared, challenges explored, and partnerships strengthened, helping to ensure that local approaches are informed, joined-up and responsive to real need.

At its heart, the Forum is about amplifying the voices of children and young people, making sure that programmes and opportunities genuinely reflect their interests, motivations and lived experiences.

By encouraging collaboration between schools, sports organisations, community groups and local authorities, the Forum helps to break down silos and create more connected ways of working.

This collective approach is particularly important when it comes to addressing inequalities, ensuring that inclusive solutions are developed so that every child – regardless of background or circumstance – has the opportunity to move more.

The Forum also acts as a catalyst for innovation, sparking creative thinking around how physical activity can be made fun, engaging and accessible for all.

Each Forum meeting offers a mix of county-wide and national updates, including insights from organisations such as Sport England, alongside partner updates where attendees can share their work through short presentations and suggest topics for discussion.

Breakout sessions allow for deeper conversations, whether focused on specific themes or local areas, while also providing valuable opportunities to help shape local strategy and priorities.

Just as importantly, the Forum creates space for connection, enabling local deliverers to build relationships, exchange learning and share resources.

Through this collaborative approach, bringing together insight, evidence and lived experience, the CYP Forum helps ensure that initiatives supporting children and young people are inclusive, locally relevant and grounded in what works.

The result is a stronger, more coordinated effort to support more young people across Sussex to lead active, healthy lives.

The next CYP Forum takes place online on Monday, January 19, 2026, from 9.30am to 11am, via Zoom.

Whether you represent a school, community organisation or local delivery partner, your voice matters.

By working together, we can continue to make a meaningful difference for children and young people across the county.

To register, please email Andy Wright, Strategic Relationship Manager for Children and Young People, at awright@activesussex.org.