The partnership aims to reduce inactivity by promoting the health, wellbeing and environmental benefits of walking.
GreaterSport has kick-started a new partnership with CAHN (the Caribbean and African Health Network), a Black-led organisation that works to eradicate health disparities for Caribbean & African people in the United Kingdom by working with the Black community and cross-sector organisations to improve health outcomes.
Through this relationship, the two organisations will be working together to encourage and normalise a culture of walking for short journeys amongst Greater Manchester’s Black population. By promoting everyday walking, and collaborating on community-led programmes to support walking as a way to connect with others, the partnership aims to reduce inactivity by promoting the health, wellbeing and environmental benefits of walking.
To celebrate Black History Month and the beginning of this new working relationship, CAHN and GreaterSport organised a walk in and around Alexandra Park to capture the enjoyment and ease of walking in a variety of settings.
Percy Akudo, Business Development and Impact Manager at CAHN, said,
"CAHN is excited to partner with Greatersport in promoting walking within the Caribbean and African community in Greater Manchester as a means of reducing physical inactivity and encouraging all round wellness. We recognise the value of adopting healthy lifestyle patterns and changes within the community in achieving our collective vision."
Louise Robbins, Strategic Lead for Walking and Active Environments at GreaterSport, said,
“We are delighted to be working with CAHN on this important campaign to influence and bring about change in behaviour around walking as a leisure activity and for local trips. Since the COVID pandemic and associated lockdowns, walking for travel has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. We hope this work will give this a boost whilst improve attitudes and behaviours around walking.
"CAHN’s vision and values align closely with our own around reducing inactivity and tackling inequalities around health and access. We are excited to see where this partnership will take us and achieve across Greater Manchester.”
GM Moving’s Strategic Director Eve Holt was part of a three-person team responsible for co-authoring a chapter on active travel.
The latest Active Lives Children and Young People (CYP) Survey data from Sport England for the academic year 2023-24 have been released. The national data indicates that physical activity levels remain stable with 47% of CYP being active.
34 community groups and organisations will be receive grants from the 2024/25 GM Walking and Wheeling Fund, supported by GM Integrated Care Partnership and distributed by GM Moving, Salford CVS and 10GM.