8 November – London, UK: Active LDN 2024 is now less than two weeks away! On Tuesday 19 November, hundreds of guests from the grassroots sport and physical activity sector will gather at the iconic Emirates Stadium to focus on this year’s theme: ‘Unlocking Spaces for a Healthier London’.
It promises to be a fantastic day, where experts from around the sector will be sharing their ideas, collaborating and networking – all with the common goal of improving access to sport and physical activity! There is so much potential in London, but all the opportunities that our city offers are not yet being realised to improve activity levels, tackle inequalities and build stronger communities in the capital.
Of course, I’m excited about the entire programme that we’ve developed for the day. But with a packed agenda, I wanted to spotlight some of the sessions to look out for:
1. Opening Keynote with Caroline Clarke, Regional Director at the NHS: The Importance of Physical Activity for Health
Caroline Clarke (Regional Director, NHS) will kick the day off, with her keynote taking a deep dive into the health benefits of physical activity and its potential to reduce health inequalities. As the new Government continues to focus on its mission to build an NHS fit for the future, the discussion on healthy environments has me eager to learn how the NHS’ strategy will incorporate and enhance physical activity nationwide, and how it will work with the sector to build an ecosystem of health-conscious communities.
2. Inspire Session: Lived Experiences of Overcoming Barriers to Participation
Our host, Broadcaster and Presenter Charlotte Richardson, will lead the first panel of the day. It will be a powerful moment to hear from the staff and beneficiaries of projects run by Arsenal in the Community – reflecting on the very real barriers that so many face in accessing physical activity. Firsthand accounts to these challenges will certainly add perspective to the conversation, whilst showcasing the necessity of practical and inclusive solutions.
3. Breakout Session: Creating Safe and Active Communities
I’m particularly excited about the “Creating Safe and Active Communities” breakout session. This session will focus on local interventions that make communities safer and more inclusive, particularly for women, girls, and marginalised groups – a topic that is close to my heart. I can’t wait to hear from our speakers on the work that they are doing to create spaces that empower people to engage confidently in physical activity.
4. Breakout Session: Using Digital Solutions to Activate Spaces for All Ages and Abilities
With rapid advancements in technology, our session on using digital solutions to activate London’s spaces will undoubtedly be an eye-opener, as leaders in digital activation will share insights on how technology is being harnessed to create more accessible spaces – it’s something we are doing an increasing amount of work in and it’s very exciting! What piques my interest is how digital tools can facilitate physical activity for everyone—regardless of age or ability—while ensuring safety and inclusivity.
5. Keynote: Europe’s Healthiest Nations, with Andre de Jeu at ACES Europe
As highlighted by the National Sector Partners Group’s (NSPG) #TaketheLead campaign, the UK’s activity levels currently rank joint 12th out of 15 comparable European countries, which is pretty eye-opening. Therefore, looking at the successes of our European counterparts is the smart approach. There is so much that we can learn, and I’m truly excited to hear Andre de Jeu’s perspective on how London can adopt progressive approaches to improve its physical activity levels. This session will be crucial for understanding the policies and practices that could be adopted to work towards making London the healthiest city in Europe.
6. Afternoon Workshops: Inclusivity and Practical Skills for Activating Spaces
The “Creating Inclusive Spaces for Londoners” workshop stands out as an interactive session. Not only will this include the practical insights on what it takes to ensure spaces are inclusive and welcoming to all, but it will be invaluable to those interested in tangible strategies for community engagement. I’m eager to hear from our speakers on their methods for activating spaces that bring Londoners together and boost physical activity across London’s varying communities.
7. Keynote: The Parkrun Journey
Finally, to close the day, Parkrun’s Steve Camacho will reflect on their iconic 20-year journey, which I think we can all agree will be a fitting finale. Parkrun has been a game-changer in making physical activity accessible, social and free – forming a fun and healthy habit for us to kick off our weekends. We’ll learn about its challenges and growth, and it will serve as a stark reminder of how powerful community initiatives can be.
Some final thoughts
Active LDN 2024 will prove to be an unmissable event, with expert advice, guidance and lived experience. Every year I feel like we level up Active LDN, and this year is not an exception.
General sale tickets will be on sale until 10 November – these are priced at £90+ VAT, with discounts available when you buy two or more! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join us! Book your tickets now: Active LDN 2024 – London Sport
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About London Sport
London Sport is a charity helping all Londoners live longer, healthier, and happier lives through being active, with a focus on children and adults in the most deprived communities who face the greatest challenges of inequality. It tackles disparities between access and opportunity in physical activity and sport, as a solution to wider societal inequalities.
It is supported by Sport England and the Mayor of London, and collaborates with London’s local authorities and other organisations, to remove barriers and provide fairer access to sport and physical activity across the capital. Its work specifically addresses underlying inequalities in sporting provision, particularly for those in underserved communities who face the greatest challenges to leading an active life.
For more information on London Sport, visit www.londonsport.org.
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