Active Local

What is Active Local? 

Active Local is Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership’s (HSP) collaborative place-based initiative. It supports targeted communities in highlighting their strengths, whilst also responding to local need and identifying where support, intervention or extra capacity could help create a more joined-up approach to tackling inequalities and reducing physical inactivity.   

As of April 2025, two of Hertfordshire's areas have been selected for Sport England's Place Universal Offer (PUO) funding, in line with their commitments to their 'Uniting the Movement' strategy. These 'Support Places' are: 

• Waltham Cross, Broxbourne

• Cowley Hill, Hertsmere

Using Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOA's) data, these areas were selected as being in the top 20% of need across the Country, via the Sport England Place Need Classification, and the highest in need MSOA's in Hertfordshire, with a focus on Children and Young People.

This funding - in place for 2 years (April 2025 - March 2027) - will allow one of HSP's core team members to be deployed in each of the 'Active Local Supported Places', helping develop physcial activity provision, increase access to opportuntites for familes, and bolster activity levels among residents.

The funding will also create two unique community steering, comprised of local partners and community groups which work and live within each area.  

Lastly, through test and learn initiatives, each area will have access to programmes and funding to be used within its target community, many of which are already under way. 

Please see the below contact details of our Active Local Supported Places Officers: 

Role	Officer	Email
Active Local Team Lead	Claire Stratford	c.stratford@herts.ac.uk
Waltham Cross Officer	Matt Ridley	m.ridley2@herts.ac.uk
Cowley Hill Officer	Jane Parker	j.parker20@herts.ac.uk
Admin Assistant	Lily Jones	l.jones25@herts.ac.uk

 

Wider than this, HSP use a place-based approach across all projects to further positvely impact the most disadvantaged communties in Hertfordshire. From Strength and Balance Classes, to Hertfordshire's Holiday and Food Activity Programme, each project targets the most in need communities across Hertfordshire, using key data and insight. In line with the respective Local Authority, Hertfordshire County Council’s Public Health team and Sport England’s Place Need Classification Tool, HSP work across the below areas to support social change within disadvantaged communities:

District	Active Local Area
Broxbourne	Waltham Cross
Dacorum	Bennetts End
East Herts	Sele
Hertsmere	Cowley Hill
North Herts	Jackmans
St Albans	Sopwell
Stevenage	Bedwell
Three Rivers	South Oxhey
Watford	Holywell
Welwyn Hatfield	Peartree

To find out more about our other projects and programmes, you can find them all here 

 

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Impact Stories

Interested in understanding the impact we are having on local communities? Take a look a range of our Impact Stories below:

Introducing the launch of the Active Local Hub

Growing Coaching Opportunities in Hertsmere

Strengthening System Leadership for Place-Based Change

Junior Football Coaching Award

 

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Would you like to work with us or find out more?

For any questions on the Active Local Universal Offer please contact HSP's Place Lead Claire Stratford: c.stratford@herts.ac.uk

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