A PARTNERSHIP between Active Dorset and the county's health sector has been recognised and featured as part of a case study released by Sport England.

Since receiving a £659,300 investment from Sport England's Active Ageing Fund, Active Dorset has been working closely with the Dorset Integrated Care System to try to embed physical activity within the healthcare setting.

The work has meant that advice and support is more widely available to those that need it, for example in GP surgeries and healthcare pathways, in a bid to reduce demand on the health and care system across the county.

Now, the partnership between the organisation and the Dorset health sector has been featured as a case study in the newly released Sport England Strategy 'Uniting the Movement'.

Charlie Cowards, deputy chief executive of Active Dorset, said: "We are very proud to have this work recognised in Sport England's new strategy. These achievements could not have been possible without partnership working and shared objectives.

"It is great to have our healthcare partners advocating the benefits of physical activity and we look forward to continuing our work in this sector."

'Uniting the Movement' is Sport England's 10-year vision which seeks to tackle the inequalities in sport and physical activity and to transform lives and communities by using sport and physical activity.

A spokesman for Sport England said: "We believe sport and physical activity has a big role to play in improving the physical and mental health of the nation, supporting the economy, reconnecting communities and rebuilding a stronger society for all.

"As we adapt and rebuild from the huge disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we need to collectively reimagine how we keep movement, sport and activity central to the lives of everyone.

"Because if we harness its power, we’ll be able to improve people’s lives in so many ways."

Active Dorset is working to unite this movement across Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council by working with members of the public to build a strategic approach to supporting more people to be more active across the two councils.

For more information on Active Dorset, visit www.activedorset.org/