Outcome 2: We encourage and enable the active to stay active throughout life

Current Context: We know that physical activity levels decrease the older we get. However, the benefits of staying active throughout life are significant including improved wellbeing, reduced depression and anxiety and a decreased risk of premature death. It is therefore vital that Angus is a place where you can be active throughout life.

There are currently a range of excellent opportunities to stay active within Angus, whether in an education setting through one of the 560+ clubs offered through Active Schools each academic year or the Dundee and Angus College wellbeing initiative opportunities that promote pathways across 34 sports. Additionally, Angus boasts a strong club community, with over 80 sports clubs accredited to the Angus Club Excellence scheme across 26 sports, complemented by six Community Sports Hubs . ANGUSalive offer a variety of inclusive programmes that engage over 1.5 million visitors to ANGUSalive facilities each year, with offerings from pre-school classes through to adult fitness programmes and sport specific sessions aimed at individuals with disabilities and additional support needs.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented new challenges for residents that have traditionally been active. Normally, 45% of pupils engage in 39 different types of extracurricular activity within school. However, during the pandemic pupils missed out on key transition stages putting them at risk of becoming inactive. Adults have been unable to access the classes, gyms, clubs and other opportunities they normally would. For this reason, it is important we continue to have a focus on re-engaging the previously active, ensure opportunities are clearly promoted and support more Angus residents to stay active throughout their life.

Local Outcomes: In Angus we will...

• Ensure there is clear and collaborative communications approach for engaging residents in sport and physical activity

• Support more Angus residents to take part and stay involved in local clubs and activities

• Provide young people with wider health improvement experiences in the senior phase, enhancing transition from school into further education and local communities

• Support previously active participants in the recovery from the pandemic

• Better understand the reasons for drop off in participation at key transition stages and develop targeted approaches to address this.

Potential Solutions: We will strive to...

• Improve engagement with wider community groups (e.g. from community councils to Angus Walking Festival)

• Develop a localised consistent platform for advertising the breadth of available opportunities across all partners

• Improve the connection between the offer in schools and the offer in local communities and facilities.

• Develop parallel activities to cater for parents in tandem with children’s activity sessions

• Include specific competencies and experiences in the Senior phase physical education curriculum, that lead to a healthier and more active lifestyle.