Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership Latest News

Yesterday, (Thursday 29th January) we were delighted to come together to celebrate a very special milestone: 10 years of The Beach Wellness Gym in Minehead! The morning was filled with warmth, shared stories and a real sense of pride as we marked a decade of supporting health, wellbeing and connection within the local community. A Decade in the Making: We opened in 2016 in partnership with the YMCA at The Beach Hotel, The Beach Wellness was created with a clear mission: to inspire and support ...

27 new Places across England announced to tackle inequalities in activity levels Somerset Coast (Porlock to Burnham on Sea, including Bridgwater) set to benefit Each new place is in the top 20% of the country for inactivity, social need, deprivation and health inequality The Somerset Coastal strip through Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), as lead body, has received funding from Sport England to boost levels of physical activity among those in greatest need, from the most ...

This month, Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership, In It Together Somerset, Our Somerset (NHS Somerset ICB) along with other partners and organisations held a first of its kind event in the heart of Glastonbury. The Women's Health & Wellbeing Event took place in the newly refurbished St Dunstan's House, which will play a key role in being a community facility to support the people of the town. The event was funded by Our Somerset (NHS Somerset ICB), In It Together Somerset and the ...

Men's Mental Health Awareness Month (November) is a reminder that support often starts with two people choosing to show up for one another. At Unbreakable Men, we see every week how connection can change a life across the county. In the past year, two men who met through the programme shared their story with us, a story that reflects the quiet strength of community, which is something we value here at SASP. Both came from similarly tough backgrounds, with patterns they had struggled with ...

Today (Saturday 18th October) marks World Menopause Day! This is an important day that's relevant to everyone. Why? Because whether you are going through it yourself, not yet, or never will, there's likely a loved one, a mum, wife, sister, auntie, friend, or colleague who is. Menopause is a natural phase in every person's life, yet it's often misunderstood and under-discussed. This year, In it Together Somerset have been working with Taunton Deane West Primary Care Network, ...

At SASP, we're thrilled to move beyond pilot stage and officially launch Move to Include across Bridgwater, Yeovil and Taunton. What started as a small-scale pilot in Bridgwater, is now evolving into a full programme. We now also support both adults and children. However, our children's support is starting small, which means we will begin by working with a small group of children, then grow the programme over time. Why Move to Include? People with learning disabilities or autism often ...

Move 2 Independence (M2I), developed by the Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), is helping people across Somerset get back to living well at home following a hospital stay. By focusing on movement, confidence and personal goals, the service empowers people to return to the activities they want, need and enjoy. Read more here on the latest headline data and stories. Since its launch, M2I has supported over 500 participants, delivering more than 1,300 face-to-face movement sessions ...

Since its launch in 2022, ProActive Physical Activity on Referral, which is set up and managed by the Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), has been steadily growing into the service for people referred to physical activity programmes across the county. Through the ProActive Physical Activity on Referral Scheme, Somerset residents living with health conditions have been given the opportunity to improve their overall health and more specifically, be provided with strategies to manage or ...

Everyone has a role to play in Somerset Moves; people, communities, and organisations, from every sector and place across the county, pulling together with a shared goal to help people move more and improve their lives in the process. On Wednesday 17th September, 160 people gathered at The Canalside, Bridgwater for our annual partner engagement event, built around Somerset Moves – the strategy for the development of physical activity and sport across Somerset 2022–2030, with the theme ...

We Are Undefeatable is a campaign supporting people with long term health conditions to be more active. As proud supporters of this campaign, we're delighted to introduce the We Are Undefeatable app. No matter where you are on your journey - whether you're just starting out, returning to activity, or looking for something new - the app has been designed with you in mind. Co-created with award-winning health tech provider Good Boost, it gives you access to tailored exercise programmes that ...

This Girl Can is rewriting the narrative of what getting active looks like for women who don't feel they belong in the world of physical activity. The new 'We Like the Way You Move' campaign is a powerful, vibrant celebration of every chapter of our women's lives, highlighting how they move through life, in all their strength, beauty and individuality. 'We Like the Way You Move' honours the different ways our women choose to move for themselves, through simple, everyday ...

We're teaming up with movement providers across Somerset to make activities for female's inclusive, suitable, and inspiring. If you're passionate about supporting female's health and wellbeing through physical activity – we want to hear from you! We're inviting organisations, sports clubs, and instructors who provide (or want to provide) movement opportunities for females aged 16+ to join our Providers Network. Whether you're running regular sessions or just ...

NHS are urging people living in Somerset to celebrate how they move as part of the South West Every Move Matters campaign. In Somerset, 24.3% are inactive (do less than 30 minutes of movement a week) and we know that a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of long-term health conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, negatively impacts mental health and weakens muscles and bones. The South West campaign highlights how small, regular movements can build a stronger, healthier future. Starting ...

We at SASP are thrilled to share that we've secured a two-year grant from the Veterans' Foundation to support our work with Armed Forces children and their families across Somerset. The grant will enable us to expand the impactful work already being delivered through our Jump Start programme, led by Aaron, Jump Start Mentor, providing targeted support to armed forces children through mentoring, community connection, and tailored wellbeing activities. Through this project, SASP will ...

Facilitated by the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) | Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund Health and social care professionals, community organisations, and people with lived experience came together on 17th June in Somerset for the 'Connecting Health Communities' (CHC) event in Bridgwater, a powerful session aimed at improving outcomes for people with dementia during and after hospital discharge, as the care journey does not end when you step out of that hospital. This ...

This week (16th – 22nd June) marks Learning Disability Week, a national campaign led by Mencap that shines a light on the experiences, achievements, and rights of people with learning disabilities. The theme for 2025 is "Do You See Me?", a powerful call to recognise and value the contributions of people with a learning disability in our communities. Right here in Somerset, one programme that truly embodies this spirit is Fit For Work. Run in Taunton, Bridgwater, Frome and Yeovil, ...

Through Jump Start, a programme delivered through the Somerset Activity and Sport Partnership (SASP) our work with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) is grounded in a simple belief: relationships are the starting point for change. Many of the young people we support have experienced trauma, loss, and displacement. Arriving in a new country, often alone, they bring with them incredible resilience shaped by difficult past experiences — but also enormous strength and potential. Through ...

June marks Pride Month, honouring the Stonewall Uprising which took place at the Stonewall Inn in New York City on 28th June 1969. Source, Stonewall (Read more here) If you need support, more information, or want to learn more about Pride and the LGBTQ+ Community, please see the useful links in the directory below. Children & Young Adults: 2BU Somerset: A specialist support service serving the needs of young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) people aged ...

Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) was thrilled to team up with the brilliant folks at Ariel Healthcare this spring, as their team embraced National Walking Month with a fantastic in-house steps challenge and what a month it's been. It all kicked off back in March when Becky Bostock, our Senior Project Officer for Health, paid a visit to the Ariel Healthcare team to deliver a motivating presentation about the benefits of moving more in the workplace. Inspired by the message, ...

About Me Hi, I'm Aaron. I'm proud to be leading this project, which is dedicated to supporting young people from armed forces families by providing them with the opportunities and encouragement they truly deserve. Having grown up in Poole and Taunton in an armed forces family myself, I have deep respect for all those who serve and the families who stand behind them. I know firsthand some of the unique challenges military life can bring. For me, sport and physical activity played ...

There's no better time to celebrate the incredible volunteers who make our neighbourhoods healthier and more connected. At SASP (Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership) and Spark Somerset, we see every day how volunteers are the backbone of thriving local communities. While our work differs - from helping people move more and stay active, to supporting charities and community groups across the county - we are united by a shared belief: that people supporting people is what makes Somerset ...

As Mental Health Awareness Week shines a spotlight on the importance of our wellbeing, one initiative in Somerset is proving that connection, conversation, and community can be powerful tools for change. Unbreakable Men, an initiative led by SASP (Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership), is creating safe spaces for men to talk, move, and support each other as we break down the silence that too often surrounds mental health. Launched in response to the growing need for accessible, informal support ...

From 1st May, The Open University and Age UK are launching a free, UK-wide public health campaign: Take Five to Age Well. The campaign invites you to join a community of people making small daily changes for better ageing across 5 action categories: Eat, Drink, Move, Connect, and Engage and Think. You sign up online and choose an action to try everyday in May. During the month the team at the Open University sends out emails with fun facts, tips, games and resources to help you keep going. Everyone ...

As you get older, you may find that muscle strength is reduced and you are less steady on your feet. Some movements, such as leaning sideways or turning quickly, can cause a loss of balance. This can begin earlier than you may expect, from your early fifties onwards. But the good news? Strength training can help at every stage of life. Whether you're navigating menopause, recovering from a hospital stay, or maintaining mobility in later years, building and maintaining muscle is key to staying ...

Today, Wednesday 19th March, is 2025's #SocialPrescribingDay. At SASP, we believe in the power of movement, community, and support to improve health and wellbeing in our communities – it's in our vision to 'achieve healthier and happier communities in Somerset through physical activity and sport'. Social prescribing plays a key role in this, offering people opportunities to enhance their physical and mental health through tailored support and activity-based programmes. Internally, ...

Tracie has been busy this Quarter in North Sedgemoor, building connections and bringing energy to local care homes. With regular visits to 10 homes, she delivers group exercise sessions, one-to-one support, equipment loans, and staff training—all while championing SASP's fantastic falls prevention resources. Excitingly, there are plans to connect with two more care homes in the new year! Highlights of some festive group exercise sessions in December were candy cane golf, fake snowballs ...

This autumn, Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), took another step towards improving community health by hosting a series of Lung Health events across Mendip in a pilot project in partnership with Mendip Primary Care Network (PCN), funded by Health Innovation South West, and commissioned by Somerset ICB. Designed in a 'community appointment day' style, the aim of the events was to increase access, awareness and participation in supported self-management, education, exercise and ...