Shining a light on the collective work

By GreaterSport | 26 November 2021 | TAGS: Stories, Case studies

Although it has been another challenging year, particularly early on, with lockdown and continued restrictions on organised activity, there has been some great examples of how people have adapted and supported GM residents to keep moving.  

Below we take a look at some of the stories shared on twitter last week using #GMMovingInAction, as part of GreaterSport’s celebration of the sector in 2021.

Wheels for all, Bolton

‘Wheels for All in Bolton is organised by volunteers and they run a disability cycle sessions for adults and young people with different abilities. During lockdown Disability sport was still able to continue in an outdoor setting, getting the programme up to a covid safe standard was difficult and working within the restrictions was even more difficult with the different abilities of the service users who attend. All the volunteers are retired and help out at the session in their spare time, they took on the massive challenge of getting the sessions going again and trying to adapt with the daily changing guidelines, the session is now back to its original capacity thanks to all the amazing volunteers.’

St Joseph and St Bede's RC Primary School, Bury

'From the moment our world changed in March 2020, St Joseph and St Bede Primary School adapted immediately to ensure that physical education, sport and exercise was still seen as an essentially important aspect of not just education, but everyday life. As a staff collective, we set home PE learning challenges for the children to upload. We used our partnership with Manchester City to excite and engage children who may have needed that extra motivation. We celebrated individual successes and promoted a healthy lifestyle through physical challenges, wellbeing opportunities and mindfulness. Children in school and at home had the same opportunities. As the world around us becomes more 'normal', we are now throwing ourselves into providing clubs and sporting opportunities for all children in our school. We look forward to competing in competitions again and we are looking for every opportunity to promote our status as a healthy, active school.'

Active Communities Network (ACN), Manchester

ACN provides young people with a safe space to enjoy themselves and form positive relationships with coaches, young leaders, and others their age. The project improves opportunities for young people, such as making football accessible along with providing employability skills, access to work and training opportunities therefore helping reduce youth unemployment, as well as incidences of crime and anti-social behaviour. The Covid-19 pandemic changed the typical platform of the session although we quickly established our delivery is transferable through many other platforms.

A young person whose journey started in December 2019 with ACN after learning about the young leader programme through a senior coach added, ‘Where I’m from (Newton Heath) there’s nothing to do for us especially when Covid hit. I was worried as I didn’t know if I will be able to carry on volunteering. Luckily enough ACN gave me a tablet with data so I could access the online sessions safely and continue learning. Already in 2021, I have completed my Sports Leaders Level 1 and Level 2 qualification, got work experience and been involved in so many opportunities’ 

Greenhill Sports Club, Oldham

Greenhill Sports Club is a volunteer-led project, which encourages people in the local community to come together and try new things, including physical activities. The club has its own football pitches, community rooms, a children’s play area and a café, and offers a wide variety of activities, from learning English and first aid to cooking, sewing and Zumba. They found themselves delivering food parcels through lockdown and setting up a befriending and support service to better connect people. https://www.gmmoving.co.uk/news/celebrating-the-sport-and-activity-sector-in-oldham

Springside Primary School, Rochdale

Springside Primary School had firmly established The Daily Mile™ before the pandemic, and they were keen to return to it as soon as possible. ‘Many of our learners were confined to their homes during the Covid lockdowns, and it was hugely challenging for them.’ Read the impact of the pandemic and providing the opportunity for the young people to keep moving at   https://www.gmmoving.co.uk/news/rochdale-school-uses-the-daily-mile-to-aid-recovery-from-covid-closure

Salford Community Leisure, Salford

With leisure centres closing Salford Community leisure had to engage their local residents in a different way. They kept their residents healthy and happy by offering a variety of digital and outdoor fitness classes, museum tours, craft clubs, family Tik Toks challenges and ‘garden aquatics’  amongst lots of other things.

Alan Gillet and Stockport Moving Together, Stockport

#StockportMovingTogether is a joint initiative between Stockport Council, Life Leisure and other key local partners to identify and deliver projects that will support those recovering from Covid-19 and build resilience in the fight against the virus. Alex shared his covid story and the care he received to get moving again https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VppifQwhCVQ.

Active Education, Tameside

As schools closed activity within schools obviously changed. The Active Tameside coaches continued to support schools during the closures by adapting their programme and offering outdoor play and sport activities for vulnerable and key worker children to ensure they could continue to keep moving in a safe environment.

Kevin Mcvety from Partington Village Football Club, Trafford

‘Kevin is a real community champion and a fantastic example of selfless volunteering to make real difference for the life’s of young people.’

Access Sport launched a Winter Warrior campaign through the winter 2020/21 to tackle the lack of sporting opportunities and growing inactivity in young people due to lock down restrictions. This involved sending multi-sport equipment and workbooks with game ideas and challenges that could be done in small spaces at home. Kevin coordinated with local residents and identified those that would most benefit from these and personally hand delivered 200 packs locally. He set up a facebook group, for people to share their ideas on how to use the equipment, which helped to reduce social isolation created by the pandemic.

Stephen O’Neill and Wigan Council services, Wigan

Stephen O’Neill contracted Covid-19 in Feb 2021. He went from leading a relatively active life as a facilities manager and a keen walker to being placed in a coma in hospital and being unable to walk more than 10 steps using a wheeled zimmer frame when he came home. Stephen has shared his story and the role of Wigan Council’s Reablement ,  Be Well and active ageing team in his recovery. https://www.gmmoving.co.uk/news/movements-role-in-stephens-recovery-from-covid-19

Greater Manchester 

Through the first part of the pandemic TfGM loaned or gave away nearly 500 bikes to NHS workers, working with local suppliers, Halfords and GreaterSport. Many of these bikes were returned and have now been re-distributed to local not-for-profit organisations. https://www.gmmoving.co.uk/news/bike-boost-for-transport-unit-and-local-charities