Podcast - How community engagement is improving understanding of inactivity challenges

Active Black Country’s latest podcast focuses on community engagement across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton to improve our knowledge of local places and understand what matters most to people about moving more and being physically active.

Podcast guests are Jodi Adams, our Strategic Lead for Active Communities, and our Community Engagement Officers, Masuma Begum and Saqib Amin (pictured left to right).

Together with Black Country partners, this approach has enabled us to reach members of the community that have been harder to reach and given us a greater understanding of the views and experiences of individuals as well as community organisations.

By listening to the collective voices of local people, communities and partners, the community engagement approach is evidencing the needs, motivations, barriers and hopes of people.

It is improving knowledge of the places and spaces available for people to be active, the multiple investments and the impact of the work of local organisations to breaking down the barriers that prevent people from living active, healthy lifestyles.

Data and insights gathered from this community engagement work are supporting our application to Sport England for new ‘place partner’ investment to help transform opportunities for physical activity across the region’s communities.