We welcomed Lisa Dodd-Mayne (Executive Director of Partnerships & Place), Adam Rigarlsford (Director of Place Relationships), Pippa Glucklich (Board Member), Hannah McDonald (National Partnerships Lead, Health), Kate Dale (Director of Marketing), James Watmough (Strategic Lead, Place Relationships) and Russ Turner (Place Relationship Manager) from Sport England to Somerset in April, to see first-hand how investment in the Coastal Place Partnership – spanning Porlock to Burnham-on-Sea, including Bridgwater – is helping to tackle inactivity and inequality through community-led, person-centred approaches.
The Somerset coastal strip is one of 90 national Place Partnerships receiving investment from Sport England’s £250 million programme, designed to address deep-rooted inequalities and make physical activity a realistic choice for everyone.
Health, rurality and seeing system change in action
Across the visit, Sport England leaders engaged with health leaders, education providers, voluntary and community organisations, and people with lived experience to explore how Somerset is embedding physical activity across systems, from health and education to community development and transport, and how collaboration is enabling long-term change.
We started the day with a visit to the West Somerset Neighbourhood Board at Williton Community Hospital, where discussions centred on rurality and access, social prescribing and the integration of physical activity within primary care. A big thanks to Living Better (West Somerset PCN) for hosting us and showcasing the depth and breadth of work - Kerry Wescott (PCN Manager), Suzanne Cavanagh (Clinical Director), Greg Cobb (Deputy Director of Improvement and Research, Somerset Foundation Trust), Sam Cox (Advanced Clinical Practitioner) & Dr Ian McKelhiem (Community representatives – Porlock Falls project – funded through place.
A trip up the coast and in land, saw the next piece of the day. This time the group split in two. In Bridgwater, Sport England leaders visited both school and community settings to understand how place-based approaches are being applied in practice.
Community and place at the heart
At Haygrove School, part of the Quantock Education Trust, discussions demonstrated how movement and physical activity are being integrated beyond PE into wider school life, supporting attendance, behaviour, mental wellbeing and inclusion.
Reflections from the session highlighted the strength of relational practice, showing how schools can influence wider systems when relationships, trust and lived experience shape delivery. A big thanks to Aaron Reid (Headteacher, Haygrove School) and Danielle Thompson (Deputy Head) for hosting us and pioneering these new ways of working.
Whilst over in Hamp, the session illustrated a very different but equally powerful approach. We visited The Recreation Community Hub where community figures demonstrated how café-style interventions create safe spaces for people to share their views, shape local offers and connect with support in ways that feel relevant and accessible.
Local residents spoke about their experiences and how relaxed environments where connection, conversation and shared experiences naturally led to increased activity, including walking and time spent outdoors as families. A big thanks to Ann Marie Gould (Founder, Sedgemoor Community Connector CIC, and Locally Trusted Organisation in Place Partnership) for hosting us and sharing your insights, the Active Place Team - Susan Metcalfe (SASP) and Laura Marshal (Thrive), Jamie (Community worker, Abri) and the fabulous volunteers at the café.
System leadership
The day rounded off with a final system leadership session in Taunton bringing together senior leaders from health, local government and the voluntary sector to consider how place-based approaches can support wider system priorities, including tackling inequalities and embedding movement across services. We welcomed Peter Lewis (CEO, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust), Duncan Sharkey (CEO, Somerset Council), David McClay (Director of Place, Somerset NHS ICB), Alison Bell (Director of Public Health, Somerset Council), Laura Annandale (Senior Commissioner CYP, Somerset Council), Sunita Mills (Head of Transport, Somerset Council), Ruth Taylor, CEO of GPSU (GP Support Unit), Katherine Nolan (CEO, Spark Somerset), Val Bishop (CEO, Thrive) and Ken Masser (Founder, Miova).
A model for place-based working
We thoroughly enjoyed showcasing Somerset to our Sport England colleagues, showing the importance of trusted relationships, community voice, long-term collaboration and creating environments where people can move more in ways that suit them.