On 19 November, London Sport held Active LDN 2024 at the iconic Emirates Stadium, bringing together nearly 300 participants under the theme, ‘Unlocking Spaces for a Healthier London’.
We heard from speakers on innovative ways to reimagine public spaces – from Arsenal in the Community’s stories of overcoming barriers, parkrun’s reflections on 20 years of movement building, or Andre de Jeu’s insights from Europe’s healthiest cities, the day reinforced the idea that collaboration, creativity, and sustained commitment are essential to transforming London into the healthiest city in the world. We also had a range of breakout sessions that focused on critical issues like health inequalities, inclusivity, and the power of creative, small-scale interventions.
In the first of a series of follow-up blogs spotlighting key takeaways from the day, we’ll hear from London Sport’s Active Environments Manager, Tash Hood, who offered her insights on the session: “Creating Safe and Active Communities”:
In my role as Active Environments Manager, I not only spend a lot of time thinking about how best we can create spaces and places that engage more Londoners to be active, but I’m also driving our Space for Girls project – which looks at this issue for women and girls more specifically. For this reason, I was really excited to hear the invaluable insights offered up by Sarah Ackland and Hanna Benihoud, who spoke about practical approaches to transform public spaces into environments where everyone—especially women and girls—can feel safe, included, and empowered.
Reflecting on the impact of this session, in the broader context of Active LDN, I wanted to share my key takeaways and what I’d like you to think more about:
- Active Inclusion Requires Sustained Commitment
As NHS Regional Director, Caroline Clarke, noted in her opening keynote, physical activity plays a pivotal role in reducing health inequalities. But achieving genuine inclusivity requires more than rhetoric; it demands long-term investment and intentional decision-making.
This principle came to life in our session with Sarah and Hanna. An audience member shared the story of a football facility prioritsing Sunday mornings for women and girls’ football, despite the financial loss from turning away men’s teams. This choice underscores how tough decisions can lead to invaluable progress.
Sarah Ackland’s “Taking Space” project aligns with this ethos by reframing running as a tool of empowerment for women. Her work emphasises that temporary events or isolated initiatives cannot create lasting change. Instead, systemic actions must embed inclusivity into the very fabric of sports culture and urban design.
- Small Wins Create Big Ripples
The barriers women face in public spaces can seem overwhelming, particularly around safety. However, as Hanna Benihoud’s Girls of the Light project demonstrates, small, creative interventions can deliver outsized impact. By transforming dark and unwelcoming areas into vibrant, illuminated spaces, her work replaces fear with joy and possibility.
This approach mirrors the broader conference theme of embedding public health priorities into urban design. By focusing on small-scale wins—adding lighting, creating artwork, or making simple adjustments to programming—communities can see immediate results that inspire further action. These quick wins are proof that even modest changes can drive meaningful transformation.
- Creative Engagement Builds Trust and Momentum
Throughout the conference, speakers highlighted the power of collaboration and creativity in reimagining public spaces. As Sarah and Hanna emphasised, engaging communities in meaningful ways is key to sustained impact. However, over-consultation can lead to disengagement. The solution? Creative methods like art and movement that encourage authentic participation and inspire trust.
Simple actions—like trimming overgrown bushes to improve visibility or shifting activity times to meet the needs of specific groups—demonstrate responsiveness and build confidence in local initiatives. Yet, these efforts must go beyond immediate wins. A recurring theme of the day was the importance of data sharing and collaboration across sectors. Too often, valuable insights remain siloed, limiting their potential for collective impact. By sharing lessons learned, best practices, and data, stakeholders can amplify their efforts, avoid duplication, and build safer, more inclusive environments.
What next?
From the insights of our breakout session to the overarching themes of the day, the message is clear: small-scale interventions, creative engagement, and sustained collaboration can create safer, more active communities. By prioritising inclusivity, embracing bold ideas, and sharing knowledge, we can unlock the potential of London’s spaces and empower everyone to lead healthier lives.
Let’s build on the momentum of Active LDN 2024 and turn these ideas into action. Together, we can reimagine our spaces – and our city – for the better.
For more information on London Sport, visit www.londonsport.org.
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