About Us

Active wellbeing is shaped by the places we live, work and spend our time—our services, environments, communities and opportunities. The Active Wellbeing Leadership Network exists to help leaders across this complex system work together with greater clarity, trust and impact.

We also support to advocate for the ‘system’ and help improve how policy, resource and support is better focused to make the biggest impact on tackling health inequalities and inequity. We live in a world where the last two decades has seen greater inequalities appear – and the network is driven by a wish to see a more equitable society, where power, resources and success are more fairly distributed.

We bring stakeholders together to connect national and local agendas, support whole-system approaches, and share practical learning that helps places tackle inactivity and health inequalities. It is important to us that our work evolves with the network, shaped by members’ insight, evidence and experience—always focused on what will make the biggest difference for communities.

Our Values

Open Mind

Being prepared to let in new ways of understanding an issue; new perspectives; hearing a wider range of views; letting go of what you think you know.

Open Will

Being prepared to behave
differently and with more link to
purpose.

Open Heart

Being prepared to ‘get in touch’
with how the issues make you
feel; empathy, compassion,
anger and so on.

Our Focus

We endeavour to encourage and convene a network focused on finding the best and most effective and efficient ways of raising levels of physical activity; particularly addressing the stubborn inequalities that exist in many local communities where activity rates are much lower than other areas. Local government’s role as place leaders will be at the heart of the network.

Lead the shared ambition
Ensure we have a common language and clear focus across the system
Help coordinate, share, and co-produce the best possible evidence to support the development of national policy and resource allocation, nationally, regionally, sub regionally and locally.
Be a key forum for Government and key partners to consult with, on place-based physical activity leadership.
Be proactive in our planning, working upstream to best develop our ideas.
Be open to innovation and emergent ideas.
Stimulate innovation: around engagement of, and with, communities, residents and citizens.
Draw upon national and international learning; recognise that we may need to talk about ‘active citizenship’, alongside ‘active wellbeing’ to tackle health inequalities.
Creating conditions for change: advocating through our policy and funding approaches.
Consider the future leadership, skills and competencies, required to increase place-based physical activity.
Identify pressures (or barriers) within the system and what needs the greatest support.
Create a positive culture, building an environment of trust and support for each other.
Help each organisation best place themselves within the physical activity system, to make the most of resources and expertise together.
Challenge ourselves and continually review our effectiveness.

Our partners and stakeholders

Our membership is fluid, recognising the breadth of issues and interests: it is a system and not a singular ‘sector’. The network is apolitical; with membership being drawn primarily from professionals within key stakeholder organisations (with nominated representatives) and/or independent specialists, or experienced place-based leaders where appropriate. As such, ‘members’ will respect each other’s professional boundaries.

There is a sense of ‘proportionality’ on how members of the network engage, and a communications approach which keeps everyone involved, at the level they wish to engage. Stakeholder engagement can be through attending meetings, contributing to thought pieces, advocating the work we do and becoming ambassadors for the Active Wellbeing message.

Network members together will offer a combination of evidence and insight, policy direction, funding, advice or extensive experience in leadership of place-based approaches, physical inactivity and/or tackling health inequalities. It is therefore recognised, that the range of organisation and partners is significant: with many ‘sectors’ all playing a role in tackling physical inactivity.

Nationally

Government ministers; cross ‘mission’ civil servants: Executive leaders in Arms-length bodies connected with Active Wellbeing (from Sport/Arts Council England; Natural England, Play England etc.), National Activity Operators, Sector membership bodies, Major health charities

Regionally & Sub Regionally

Mayoral Leaders, Regional Leaders & Local Authority leaders & Chief Executives, Chairs of Integrated Care Boards, Regional Civil Servants

Locally

Directors of Local Authorities, Directors of Public Health, Lead General practitioners & prescribers, Chief Officers of Locally led Trusts, Move More/Activity Partnerships etc, communities & neighbourhoods

We’re creating a movement for movement

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