Community Leisure UK and Richmond Group of Charities Team Up 

Published on: July 16th 2024

Community Leisure UK and The Richmond Group of Charities will work closely together over the next year as part of a new partnership to support Charitable Trusts and Social Enterprises strengthen programmes and awareness for people with long-term health conditions in England. 

This partnership is made possible thanks to Community Leisure UK’s new Strategic Health Group, which sees leisure and culture trusts come together to promote social enterprises in health across England. The group recognizes the value and importance of the Richmond Group of Charities’ work and the We Are Undefeatable campaign, highlighting the importance for leisure and culture trusts to make use of this valuable partnership to support more people with long-term health conditions. 

Current Chair of Community Leisure UK’s Strategic Health Group, Andy Brooks said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Richmond Group of Charities to support Charitable Trusts and Social Enterprises. This partnership will ensure our members have an even greater understanding of the latest data which will support them to develop health programmes that benefit even more people living with long-term health conditions.” 

The informal partnership will see Community Leisure UK members support the Richmond Group of Charity’s physical activity work, including flagship campaign “We Are Undefeatable”– which aims to inspire and support people with long-term conditions to move in ways that work for them.  

It was developed by the Richmond Group of Charities with partners Mind and MS Society, backed by Sport England with National Lottery funding. Community Leisure UK members will also be encouraged to actively share their experience and contribute to the knowledge bank of We Are Undefeatable with examples of activities taking place across leisure, culture, community and green spaces to support people with long-term health conditions in being more active. 

Duleep Allirajah, CEO, The Richmond Group of Charities, said: “The community leisure sector has an essential role to play in supporting people with long-term conditions to become and stay physically active. Its programmes, services and spaces can help people with long-term conditions to find ways to move close to home that work for them and play a vital role in offering inclusive and accessible choices. 

“By working more closely with Community Leisure UK and its members, we will ensure that the lived experienced of the people we represent informs how opportunities to be active are tailored to their needs, and that we reach every section of the community.” 

In return Community Leisure UK members in England will receive greater understanding and insight from the We Are Undefeatable’s “Bridging the Gap” Report to support development of programmes for people with suffering long-term health conditions via improved understanding and staff training. 

More than 2,000 people took part in the consultation for the report, including those living with health conditions, their carers, friends and families, and those with a professional interest in this area. 

Key themes included: 

  • Why the NHS is only a starting point for people with health conditions to become more active. 
  • How the ‘empathy gap’ may be hindering support for people with health conditions. 
  • The pivotal role that health charities can and must play in supporting physical activity. 

Kirsty Cumming, Community Leisure UK’s Chief Executive said: “This new partnership will give our members even greater understanding of how to get even more people living with long-term health conditions active.  

“The data and insight from this report is invaluable in terms of understanding barriers people face and knowing this presents the opportunity for our members to do even more social good as Charities and Social Enterprises, helping to bridge the gaps in communities for everyone to be able to lead an active, happier and healthy life”. 

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