Our Work in Newham

Newham is a diverse borough with strong community assets, but it also faces deep inequalities that affect health, wellbeing and opportunities to be active. Latest available data shows:

  • Most deprived borough in London (7th in England)
  • Over 27% of children live in low-income households
  • ~60% of adults meet recommended physical activity guidelines
  • 43% of children and young people meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity

Project Overview

Through Sport England’s Place Expansion investment, London Sport is working with partners across Newham to develop a long-term Place Partnership approach.

This is not just about sport and leisure. It is about bringing people and organisations together across sectors such as health, education, community, housing, neighbourhoods, parks and physical activity to create the conditions that help more residents move more, in ways that work for them and their communities.

In Newham we are collaborating with a wide range of partners, including Newham Council, Access Sport, Fight for Peace, UEL, GLL, L&Q, West Ham United Foundation, West Silvertown Foundation, Ambition Aspire Achieve, Foundation for Future London, to drive sustainable, community-driven change.

Our Approach

We are building a long-term, community-led model for change through four key phases:

Phase 1: Set up how we work

Establishing the frameworks needed for decision-making, accountability and shared leadership.

Phase 2: Build shared understanding

Engaging communities, gathering insight, and understanding local needs, strengths and barriers.

Phase 3: Focus & Test

Co-producing and testing collaborative approaches with local partners to address local inequalities in physical activity.

Phase 4: Shaping what comes next

Building the case for our long-term approach and the ways of working needed to sustain it in Newham.

Daniel Leggett

Senior Development Manager – Newham 

Email: [email protected]