Getting More Active

Sadly, physical inactivity and not moving enough is estimated to cause around one in every six deaths.

The City Council has now updated its plans for getting more residents moving. The aims include improving and enhancing conditions and opportunities for everyone to be active more often. This includes informal activity such as going for a walk with friends in the park, cycling to work, or having a swim, or more formal activities such as joining a sports club or gym.

Plans include building up infrastructure by expanding the city's cycle lane network, continuing the playzone programme that is improving access to community-based activities, continuing to work with schools and academies, and further investments at leisure and sports centres.

Organised activity programmes are being stepped-up with localised Swim, Bike and Run programmes or activity events such as the Active Sunderland BIG 3K for runners of all ages and abilities, which took place in May; the BIG Bike Ride, which was earlier this month, and this year's BIG Walk on Sunday 22 September.

You can sign-up for the BIG Walk here: BIG Walk September 2024.

There are Active Sunderland Family Fun sessions throughout the summer also providing residents with the opportunity to move more and take part in fun activities with their friends and families. See: Active Sunderland school holidays.

This Active Sunderland Strategy 2024 - 2027 has now been backed by the City Council's executive decision-making Cabinet.

Figures in the strategy outline how city residents are more active than others. Across the city, adult participation in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity activity is 62.3 per cent compared to 60.2 per cent in the North East.

Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism, Councillor Beth Jones said: "We and our partners remain absolutely committed to encouraging residents to enjoy the many physical and mental health benefits that come from being more active. We want to see more activity from everyone, improve take-up and access for all groups and ages, and then we will see a healthier city."

Research has also shown that investing in community sport and physical activities means that as people are healthier there are major benefits for the NHS because there are fewer illnesses and diseases to treat.

Cllr Jones added: "We want to engage with everyone and see that everyone in Sunderland can have a healthy, happy life and no one is left behind."

Further examples of work for the strategy are outlined in the Active Sunderland Delivery Plan. See: See here.