Outcome 5: We support wellbeing and resilience in communities through Physical Activity and Sport

Current Context: Connecting, learning, being active, and giving are four of the five ways to well-being, each of which can be achieved through physical activity and sport.

When asked through public consultation, 25% of respondents in Angus cited “lack of self-motivation” as a barrier to participation, highlighting the need to develop opportunities that support wellbeing and resilience within Angus, empowering communities to access them.

Traditionally, Angus has an excellent school sport competition structure and residents participate in community club competitive opportunities. These demonstrate personal qualities, such as resilience and develop physical competencies, physical fitness, and cognitive skills, to aid lifelong wellbeing. There are also a range of targeted interventions supporting wellbeing such as Macmillan Move More and BE ACTIVE...live well, both supporting residents with health conditions.

The pandemic had an impact on the resilience of communities. 68% of Scots are said to have coped well, however many have struggled. Sport and physical activity will play a significant role in re-establishing resilience and wellbeing within Angus communities.

Local Outcomes: In Angus we will...

• Work effectively with partners in a sustainable Whole Systems Approach to ensure the Angus Physical Activity and Sport offer is included and actively utilised in local prevention, intervention, and recovery agendas (e.g. health and wellbeing, mental health and community cohesion and resilience)

• Support and work with our partners to promote clear, concise, and tangible physical activity messages that are meaningful to the population of Angus, enabling and encouraging activity and overall health and wellbeing benefits

• Have strong and sustainable sports clubs that are an integral part of our communities.

• Adopt a Changing Lives approach, using sport and physical activity as an intentional tool to achieve both increased participation and wider social outcomes

• Consult to determine the needs of both urban and rural communities and identify residents willing to assist in the planning and delivery of physical activity and sport in their community

• Support, encourage and celebrate members of the local community who champion the benefits of physical activity and sport.

Potential Solutions: We will strive to...

• Improve communication links with local communities, such as youth and adult forums, school sport councils, and facility users

• Use of customer feedback to plan and inform future provision

• Encourage and support community volunteers to organise ‘Park Runs’, walking groups and cycling groups

• Incentivise volunteering opportunities, with a focus on recognition and reward

• Improve collaboration between sporting and nonsporting organisations with a specific focus on social outcomes

• Use the Changing Lives approach to further enhance the work of clubs and organisations, specific to their local community • Develop alternative activities with those facing barriers to participation (e.g. walking/running groups)

• Re-establish a broad range of extracurricular participation and competition opportunities, to ensure the level of pre pandemic wider experiences are available.