Colchester is set to benefit from a significant investment in sport and physical activity, as Sport England launches the next phase of its Place Partnership Deepening programme across North Essex – following the success of its initial Local Delivery Pilot.
Building on the momentum of previous work in the region, this new phase will see a total of £9.8 million invested across Essex, with just under £500,000 allocated specifically to Colchester to expand and strengthen proven initiatives to deliver greater outcomes for our communities, embedding physical activity into everyday life.
Colchester will also benefit from a further £1 million investment across the North Essex footprint to support preventative health creation, active environments and improved outcomes for children and young people.
The funding comes as part of Sport England’s “Deepening” strategy, which outlines a national commitment to tackling inactivity and making sport and movement accessible to all – especially underrepresented groups such as women, ethnic minorities, disabled individuals, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Through this new phase, Sport England is supporting local authorities, schools, health providers, and community organisations to work in partnership to develop sustainable, inclusive, and innovative ways of increasing participation in sport and physical activity.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhood Services and Leisure, said: “This new round of investment is a huge vote of confidence in the work already being done in Colchester to improve lives through movement and connection.”
Cllr Jocelyn Law, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Public Protection said: “With the new funding from Sport England, we can go even further – helping more people to getting active, and building stronger, healthier communities for the future.”
The funding will support a number of projects, including Essex Pedal Power Colchester, Wheels for all development, Beat the Street Colchester, Future of Public Sport & Leisure, Heart of Greenstead Community Hub & Colchester Townhouse Investment, Ringfenced Capacity across Colchester City Council & Colchester Borough Homes. These projects will aim to not only increase physical activity levels, but also improve social connection, accessibility, and local leadership across the district.
Alongside the Colchester-specific investments, a wider portfolio of projects will be rolled out across North Essex to build strong systems for long-term behaviour change, leadership development, and partnership working across sectors.
This collaborative approach is central to the Place Partnership model, ensuring that progress is community-led, data-informed, and adaptable to local needs over time.
Building on the momentum of previous work in the region, this new phase will see a total of £9.8 million invested across Essex, with just under £500,000 allocated specifically to Colchester to expand and strengthen proven initiatives to deliver greater outcomes for our communities, embedding physical activity into everyday life.
Colchester will also benefit from a further £1 million investment across the North Essex footprint to support preventative health creation, active environments and improved outcomes for children and young people.
The funding comes as part of Sport England’s “Deepening” strategy, which outlines a national commitment to tackling inactivity and making sport and movement accessible to all – especially underrepresented groups such as women, ethnic minorities, disabled individuals, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Through this new phase, Sport England is supporting local authorities, schools, health providers, and community organisations to work in partnership to develop sustainable, inclusive, and innovative ways of increasing participation in sport and physical activity.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhood Services and Leisure, said: “This new round of investment is a huge vote of confidence in the work already being done in Colchester to improve lives through movement and connection.”
Cllr Jocelyn Law, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Public Protection said: “With the new funding from Sport England, we can go even further – helping more people to getting active, and building stronger, healthier communities for the future.”
The funding will support a number of projects, including Essex Pedal Power Colchester, Wheels for all development, Beat the Street Colchester, Future of Public Sport & Leisure, Heart of Greenstead Community Hub & Colchester Townhouse Investment, Ringfenced Capacity across Colchester City Council & Colchester Borough Homes. These projects will aim to not only increase physical activity levels, but also improve social connection, accessibility, and local leadership across the district.
Alongside the Colchester-specific investments, a wider portfolio of projects will be rolled out across North Essex to build strong systems for long-term behaviour change, leadership development, and partnership working across sectors.
This collaborative approach is central to the Place Partnership model, ensuring that progress is community-led, data-informed, and adaptable to local needs over time.
The Place Partnership Deepening programme marks a long-term commitment to transforming how physical activity is delivered and experienced across our communities. Evaluation, innovation, and lived experience will guide the delivery of these projects, ensuring they continue to evolve in response to local needs.
Page last reviewed: 12 August 2025