More than 45 people from organisations across Morecambe and Lancaster recently came together for a two-day programme focused on improving health and wellbeing in local communities.
The workshop, hosted by Active Lancashire and Lancaster City Council at More Music in Morecambe’s West End, brought together people working across health, education, local government, public services and community organisations. Attendees discussed some of the challenges facing local people and explored how movement, physical activity and stronger community connections could help make a difference.
The two-day workshop, delivered by Miova, also provided an opportunity to share knowledge and experience, make new connections and look at how organisations could support each other more effectively. This included identifying opportunities to share skills and resources and build on the positive work already taking place across Morecambe.
Mark Stephenson, Partnerships Manager at Active Lancashire, said: “The workshops were a great opportunity for people from different organisations to come together, share ideas and strengthen relationships. There was a real sense of enthusiasm about working together to make a positive difference for people and communities across Morecambe.
“By bringing people together, we can better understand the challenges facing the town, share what is already working and find new ways to support healthier, happier and more connected communities.”
The programme forms part of Active Lancashire’s wider work with partners through Sport England’s Place Universal Offer, which supports towns and cities across England to work together to tackle inactivity and improve opportunities for people to be active.
Work has already been undertaken in Morecambe through Lancaster-based charity Lancashire Youth Challenge, who have worked with Lancaster City Council to embed its Empire Fighting Chance programme at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre. The sessions aim to support young people in gaining confidence, increasing resilience and making positive choices through non-contact boxing and mentoring.
Tamasin Lamb, Healthy Communities Lead at Lancaster City Council, said: “Bringing people together from across different sectors has given us a valuable opportunity to look at Morecambe’s challenges and opportunities from a range of perspectives. We’ve seen through work such as Lancashire Youth Challenge’s Empire Fighting Chance programme at Salt Ayre how partnership working can turn shared ideas into practical opportunities that make a difference to local people.
“It’s been encouraging to see the relationships that have developed through this programme, and the willingness of organisations to share their knowledge, skills and resources. We now have an opportunity to build on these connections and continue developing initiatives that respond to the needs of Morecambe’s communities.”
The work will continue as local partners build on the conversations and connections made during the programme, with the aim of supporting a healthier and more connected Morecambe.
