A longitudinal case study and collaborative impact evaluation of a social movement approach to physical activity in Southall, UK
There is evidence that community engagement interventions including physical activity and sport projects can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing behaviours. Specifically, health and wellbeing improvement is founded on strengthening communities through volunteering and peer roles, collaborations and partnerships, and access to community / local resources. Successful community-based health and wellbeing interventions are associated with extensive formative research, participatory strategies and a theoretical and practical focus on changing social norms.
A social movement approach to community physical founded on the principles of empowering collective action is one such strategy for maximising the impact of complex multi-stakeholder projects. However, there are few social movement projects in the community sport and physical activity sector.
Additionally, there is little evidence of the impact of social movement projects in sport and physical activity or of the experiences of stakeholders contributing to the community of practice in such approaches. The programme of work includes a longitudinal case study and impact evaluation of a social movement approach to physical activity in Southall, Ealing UK.
Our work provides a unique community perspective, paramount in building the evidence base about the value of a social movement approach to increasing physical activity, improving health and bringing about positive change to the lives of individuals and communities.
The project will focus on understanding what works and what does not work in increasing physical activity, improving health and bringing about positive change to the lives of individuals and communities.
Images used courtesy of Let's Go Southall.