Active Essex: The Active Partnership for Essex

 Active Essex Team

Active Essex and Colchester City Council have been on the same mission for many years, with the ambition of creating opportunities to inspire and enable more people to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. Active Essex is delighted to be celebrating alongside Colchester City Council for their 50th anniversary and we’re proud to reflect on how closely our ethos and strategies align, continuing to work together to make physical activity more accessible for all. This milestone is a testament to our shared commitment to building healthier, more active communities, and we’re excited for what the future holds as we continue this important journey together. 

Who are Active Essex? 

Active Essex is the Physical Activity and Sport Partnership for Essex, Southend and Thurrock, and we are one of 43 Active Partnerships in England who work collaboratively with local partners to ensure the power of physical activity and sport can transform lives. 

Our vision is to create an active Essex to improve everyone's health and wellbeing. This is underpinned by working together across systems to make physical activity a part of everyday life. We ensure we do this together, by continuing to strengthen communities, by providing tools to enable our young to have the best and most healthy start to life, by creating attractive local spaces and places to encourage people to be active, and ensuring that good physical and mental wellbeing can be accessed by everyone. 

How long have Active Essex worked with Colchester City Council? 

Active Essex have worked with Colchester City Council for a long time, going as far back to when we were known as ‘Sport Essex’, so we’d estimate around 15-16 years. 

Why is it important for Active Essex to have a good relationship with Colchester City Council? 

Active Essex aims to build healthier, more active communities across the county. An active lifestyle creates huge benefits for the health and wellbeing of individuals and families, as well as making local communities more vibrant, connected, and resilient. Working in close partnership with Colchester City Council has helped Active Essex to achieve these aims, as they have the ability to reach into local communities and engage with residents, through their venues, staff and connections. 

What have Active Essex have worked on in collaboration/ partnership with Colchester City Council? 

In 2017, Colchester was selected as one of the target areas within the Essex Local Delivery Pilot; an initiative that helps to create solutions that increase activity levels which are genuinely replicable and sustainable. This funding has enabled projects such as Essex Pedal Power in Greenstead and Wheels For All to thrive, enabling more residents in some of the most deprived areas in Colchester the opportunity to cycle.  

Additional projects which have been made possible due to the partnership between Active Essex and Colchester City Council are: 
 

• ParkPlay – Free family activity sessions every Saturday morning, across 3 venues in Colchester 
• RideLondon – The RideLondon Classique event has taken place in Colchester for the past two years, whereby Active Essex have helped Colchester to activate their local communities and inspire residents to enjoy the many benefits that cycling brings, as well as engaging local businesses. 
• Colchester Sports Facilities Delivery Group – This was initiated by Sport England and led by the Colchester City Council Planning Team, which includes sport facilities owners in Colchester such as CCC, the University of Essex and Colchester Garrison, as well as NGBs of sports such as football, cricket, rugby and netball. 
• Supporting the leisure sector in Colchester, through the Future of Public Leisure in Essex group 

What do Active Essex enjoy most about working with Colchester City Council? 

Active Essex particularly enjoys working with colleagues in the Colchester City Council Communities Team. We have built a strong and trustworthy relationship over the years and it’s always a positive and rewarding experience collaborating on projects that make a meaningful impact in the community, fostering healthier and more active lifestyles for residents. 

What has been the most rewarding moment for Active Essex and Colchester City Council? 

Aside from becoming a Local Delivery Pilot area, the one-year anniversary of Essex Pedal Power in Colchester was a huge milestone. It highlighted the success of our collaboration in providing accessible cycling opportunities to residents, enabling more people to enjoy active lifestyles. Seeing the positive impact on individuals' health and wellbeing, as well as the strengthened community connections, made it an incredibly rewarding moment for both Active Essex and Colchester City Council. 

Describe Colchester City Council in one word 

Contemporary!