Thank you very much for attending our #GBAStrategy21 Engagement Event on the 18th May.

We were delighted to see a great response from our partners across a wide range of Berkshire communities. It's a genuine indicator that physical activity is paramount for Berkshire people's health and happiness.

See the Strategic Intent document on our website and get in touch with a GBA team member should you wish to be involved in the GBA Strategy delivery.

There's currently a lot of information to consider with the return to play across the sport and physical activity sector.

Sport England have created a guidance hub to collate advice, insight and guidance making it easier for you to find the latest information as we move through the steps of the Government's roadmap.

Be part of the Team Berkshire Advisory Board

We are working on a brand new Berkshire Workforce Programme - Team Berkshire. Team Berkshire is all about offering the support, expertise and services which may normally be beyond reach. Members will have access to a network of expert knowledge, guidance and assistance in delivering quality sessions, gaining funding and an array of discounted services.

We are seeking organisations or individuals with a passion for developing opportunities for local coaches, volunteers and deliverers to join the Team Berkshire Advisory Board.

To express your interest in being a part of Team Berkshire's development, please email us: matt.davies@getberkshireactive.org

Clubs In Crisis fund

in partnership with Berkshire Community Foundation

Get Berkshire Active is delighted to be working with the Berkshire Community Foundation to maximise our support for local sports groups. Applicants who require more financial support than is available via the Clubs In Crisis fund are invited to apply to Get Berkshire Active's Tackling Inequalities Fund for a chance of additional or match funding. Likewise, past recipients or current applicants of the Tackling Inequalities Fund are also welcome to apply to the Clubs In Crisis fund for monies to expand or continue their sports offer to local communities.

New deadline is Monday 24th May.

More information here.

Toyota Parasport Fund reopens

Following the success of the first round of the Toyota Parasport funding and in the lead up to the Paralympic Games, round 2 of funding is launched in May 2021. This round sees £200,000 of funding available, allowing for grants between £1000 and £5000. The emphasis this time is for a return to activity and sport for disabled people following the impact of Covid-19. The fund will be open until 31st May at 5pm.

Information can be found on the dedicated webpage, and applications are made using the small grants application form. The funding guide gives further detail about the fund and how to apply. The key information is copied below:

Rayne Foundation Fund

Rayne Foundation funds charitable and not-for-profit organisations and considers applications in the fields of arts, health and wellbeing, education in its widest sense, and those that cover social issues. In addition, they have a number of areas of special interest:

They also consider applications in other topics which meet the broader criteria.
Funding is targeted towards issues and organisations which do not enjoy widespread public support. Grants typically fall in the range of £10,000 - £20,000 / year for up to 3 years. There is a 2 stage application process. See https://www.raynefoundation.org.uk/ check documents for guidelines. Apply any time.

Frimley Health and Care Fund

Children and Young People Innovation Fund

The Fund offers community groups and individuals in Bracknell Forest grants of up to £5000 to develop local projects to help support the health and wellbeing of families, parents, children and young people. Register to attend one of two briefing / Q&A sessions on the fund to be held:

Applications open 21 June to 30 July 2021. More information at the briefing and then nearer the time.

Funding and Fundraising Clinics

The Involve Funding Advice Team have launched a free monthly clinic offering a 1:1 meeting to discuss your funding, fundraising and related issues and offer practical options, support or resources.

Participants meet by video-link or phone from 1-4pm on the first Wednesday in each month. The next clinic is 2nd June. Book on https://involve.community/events or call 01344 383523 or email jackie.leslie@involve.community

More info here.

Regular physical activity cuts the risk of infectious diseases

The risk of mortality and catching a virus is reduced

Researchers completed a review of over 16,000 epidemiological studies published since 1980 and found regular physical activity was linked to a 31% reduction in community-acquired infectious diseases, such as Covid-19. It can cut the risk of dying from one of these diseases by 37% and can also boost the effectiveness of vaccines.

150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity (the type that gets you out of breath) combining aerobic and strengthening exercises appears to protect against infectious diseases as well as chronic disease and this is the amount recommended by the UK Chief Medical Officer for adults over 19.

This research once again highlights the importance of keeping active and how physical activity can help lessen the impact of pandemics such as Covid-19. Read the full article here.

England activity levels affected by the pandemic

Latest Active Lives Survey results released

Sport England's Active Lives Survey measures the sport and physical activity levels of adults (aged 16+) across England. The most recent survey looked at the period November 2019-November 2020 and covers four months before the coronavirus pandemic and eight months of restrictions being imposed from mid-March 2020 to the start of the second national lockdown in November 2020. The pandemic led to decreases in physical activity levels; they were hardest hit during the initial lockdown period but over the 12 months there were:

- 710,000 (-1.9%) fewer active adults meeting the Chief Medical Officer's guidelines of taking part in 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week, taking the total number of active adults to 27.9 million (61.4% of the population).

- 1.2m (+2.6%) more inactive adults taking part in less than an average of 30 minutes a week, taking the total number of inactive adults in England to 12.3m (27.1% of the population).

- The activity levels of women, young people aged 16-24, over 75s, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, and those from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds were most negatively impacted beyond the initial lockdown period.

In Berkshire, the current activity rate is 65.4%. 12 months ago it was 64.7% so the number of active people has increased a little. West Berkshire saw a big increase in activity levels of 11.4% and Bracknell Forest also saw a small increase. The results also found that over 23% of people in Berkshire are inactive so are doing less than 30 minutes per week of physical activity.

Sport England have also produced a specific Coronavirus report; if you would like to examine it, look at the latest results in more detail or find out more about the survey, visit the Sport England website.

Activity Alliance

New strategy launched as poll findings reveal pandemic impact

National charity Activity Alliance reveal the growing impact of the pandemic on disabled people. Just over 7 in 10 disabled people (72%) agree that the coronavirus pandemic has made sport and physical activity less fair for disabled people.

This is one of the headline findings of a new YouGov poll commissioned by Activity Alliance, the leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity. The poll also revealed that only 3 in 10 (30%) disabled people agree that disabled people have the same opportunity to be active as non-disabled people.

The findings published as Activity Alliance launches their new strategy, 'Achieving Fairness'. Despite a slight improvement before the pandemic, disabled people remain twice as likely to be inactive as non-disabled people.

Barry Horne, Chief Executive at Activity Alliance, said:

"Our new strategy recognises the need to embed inclusive practices across organisations and to change attitudes towards disabled people in all aspects of sport and physical activity. Everything we do in the next three years will be shaped by our determination to see a real step change in disabled people's activity. We need to raise awareness of the barriers, some of them longstanding, and collaboratively, drive change. The pandemic has widened the inequalities that already existed for disabled people, and the findings of our research confirm this."

The Activity Alliance 2021-24 Strategy, Achieving Fairness is available to view at www.activityalliance.org.uk/strategy.

Volunteers’ Week 2021

1-7 June

Volunteers' Week takes place between 1-7 June every year and is a time to recognise and thank volunteers. During an exceptionally difficult year, people from all walks of life around the UK have taken the time to volunteer and made a huge difference to people and their communities – just as they do every year.

That's why the theme for this year's Volunteers' Week is 'A time to say thanks'.

Here's how you can join in:

As part of UK Coaching's The Great Coaching Comeback: Coaching For All campaign, we are pleased to tell you that UK Coaching Week will be happening this year from the 7-13 June.

Great coaches are key to the nation's recovery post lockdown, by transforming lives and inspiring communities through sport and physical activity. We want to celebrate Great Coaching and help the nation's 3 million coaches share their voice, be heard, and generate the investment they need to reinvent, recover and return to coaching.

National School Sport Week 2021

19th-25th June

After a year in which young people have missed out on so much and had their worlds turned upside down, sport and physical activity are playing an essential role in their recovery.

National School Sport Week 2021 will celebrate the return of youth sport and its power to bring people back together with a week of school sports days held up and down the country. The theme of this year's campaign is Together Again and the Youth Sport Trust want you to join in by organising or supporting an event during the week.

This year they are partnering with the Together Campaign to bring the themes of that campaign to life for young people through National School Sport Week.

Schools, families and communities across the UK are encouraged to sign up and share their commitment to holding a sports day between 19th and 25th June this summer.

Everyone who signs up will receive free resources from the Youth Sport Trust, including the ultimate guide to staging an inclusive sports day, top tips on harnessing the power of sport to bring young people together and advice on how to give young people a voice in organising their sports days.

#EasierToBeActive

Over 350 people joined the #EasierToBeActive online conversation last year and together shared over 1,100 contributions – a combination of ideas, comments and votes.

From 10th – 31st May, the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University and the National Centre for Sport & Exercise Medicine – Sheffield will be hosting a second national online conversation where everyone can read, vote and comment on what we have heard so far, and add new ideas – all anonymously. They want to involve as many people as possible across England, so even if you didn't take part in the first conversation, this is your chance to share your ideas. You can visit the conversation as many times as you like during this 3 week period, at times that suit you.

It is essential to keep the voice of experts by experience at the heart of our approach, so they really want to hear from those of us with health conditions.

Please share your own views, and also help us spread the word and encourage your friends and family, colleagues, and networks to visit https://easiertobeactive.clevertogether.com to register their email address. That way they can get in touch when the online conversation opens, and keep them updated along the way.

Helping people become more physically active

Free online workshops

Get Berkshire Active are offering a free 'Helping people become more physically active' CPD workshops (1-hour)

These sessions are for people in resident-facing roles (e.g., community navigators, support workers) who would like to learn more about the benefits of being physically active, common barriers and tips, and how to best support others through positive conversations. Plus find out about local opportunities to be more active in your area.

West Berkshire – Tuesday 25^th May 12pm – book here
Wokingham – Wednesday 26^th May 12pm – book here
Reading – Tuesday 8^th June 2pm – book here

Boing Kids' Virtual Coaching course

New date!

Boing's online coaching course is dedicated to supporting coaches, teachers and volunteers who work with kids to make their sessions more active, more inclusive and more playful than ever!

This blended course has videos to watch and tasks to complete in your own time and includes a live online session to explore how you can incorporate the power of play into the great work you do.

£12.50pp

Tuesday 15 June, 6:00 - 7:30pm

Watch the official video: Boing and GBA!

Who is it for: Anyone that works with children and young people 5 to 12 year olds; sports clubs, community groups, youth groups, teachers, coaches, volunteers, physical activity providers.

Free Clubs Matters Workshop

Helping your Club to Develop

Needing to understand the sector's marketing minefield to attract new members? Want to be able to deliver great experiences for your participants? Or do you want to develop a more positive volunteer community?

In collaboration with Sport England & Club Matters, Get Berkshire Active are running a series of FREE bespoke club development workshops (online) for sports clubs.

Introduction to Legal Structures - 19th May, 19:00 - 21:00

Planning for your Future - 20th May, 19:00 - 21:00

Safeguarding and Protecting Children

UK Coaching

More than ever safeguarding our children and young people is so important, now that they are spending more time away from key support networks during lockdown. Designed by UK Coaching, NCPCC and the CPSU, these Online Classrooms have been specifically tailored to raise awareness of safeguarding within active sporting and physical activity environments. Attendees will also gain an understanding of mental health and how to challenge stigma within a club environment.

£28.00 Berkshire resident // £30.00 General ticket.

Thursday 17 June, 6:30pm

Who is it for: Coaches, sports clubs, volunteers, welfare officers and safeguarding leads, instructors, physical activity providers.

Mental Health and Physical Activity Toolkit

Mind Charity

Mind Charity's Mental Health and Physical Activity Toolkit aims to increase the number of sport, physical activity and mental health providers who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to support and engage people experiencing mental health problems in physical activity.

The toolkit is made up of a variety of guides. Each one provides guidance, tools, templates and good practice case studies to help organisations provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for people experiencing mental health problems to be physically active.

Mental Health Awareness

Lunch and Learn webinar series

In collaboration with Get Berkshire Active, Support in Mind is delivering a series of 'lunch and learn' webinars. Designed for the grassroots sport and physical activity sector, 4 bespoke webinars to develop understanding and awareness of mental health and wellbeing are running throughout May 2021.

We aim to share knowledge and support for individuals who work in local clubs or organisations that provide sport & physical activity, so that we can enhance the mental health conversations within our local communities.

You can book on for FREE now:

Recognising signs & supporting others - Thurs, 20th May at 13:00

Changing club culture - Tue, 25th May at 13:00

Who is it for: Coaches, sports club committees, volunteers, physical activity providers, instructors.

Sport in Mind Journal

Support your mental wellbeing

A fantastic way to support you to get more active, feel more in control and put in place some healthy habits. Sport in Mind are launching their acclaimed Journal, which is FREE for Sport in Mind participants and professionals wanting to use it to support their clients. They are also available to purchase from their online shop. More info:

How to order a journal

How to participate in Sport in Mind activities

Chair Exercise Virtual Sessions

We have places available at our Chair Exercise virtual sessions pitched at a gentle intensity and led by qualified instructors. Our sessions are great fun. Help us spread the word about it!

VIRTUAL Mondays at 10am, Chair Yoga with Sami.

VIRTUAL Monday at 11am, Gentle Chair exercise with Debbie and Mandy from Mindset Massage.

VIRTUAL Wednesdays at 11am, Gentle Chair exercise with Kate.

VIRTUAL Fridays at 11.15am, Gentle Chair exercise with Hayley.

Before attending our free sessions listed above we kindly ask all participants to complete the following registration form which you can access by clicking this link - Registration Form - Ever Active Virtual sessions (office.com)

Mums Zone free classes

For pregnant women and new mums

Our Mums' Zone programme is back!

Mums' Zone is a programme for pregnant women and those who have recently had a baby and aims to provide a FREE weekly stretch, strength and relax exercise programme and additional support to improve mental and physical wellbeing for women living in Slough. Please see attached details for both pre and post-natal free virtual classes and we would appreciate if you could pass on through your networks. If you have any questions please contact cathy.carr@getberkshireactive.org

What Mums are saying about the Mums' Zone online sessions:

"Thank you so much for these sessions. They helped me to start to feel like me again and not just a mum who is still in pain and healing after a traumatic birth and subsequent time in theatre. We are struggling and not just for covid. These free sessions are a lifeline at this time."

Improve your Mental Wellbeing

Sport in Mind Sessions

It is starting to feel a lot brighter, Sport in Mind are really excited and going to look at reintroducing a number of activities in Reading, open to anyone over 18 experiencing mental health issues.

Sport in Mind are asking everyone that attends the sessions to complete a new participant form, these can be completed at the session, or use a new system to complete the form here.

The sessions remain drop-in sessions, so no need to book in advance (apart from the Allotment sessions) and no formal referral required.

Tai Chi, Tuesday 3-4pm, Meet near main car park, Prospect Park, Liebenrood Road, RG30 2ND

Football, Tuesday 2-3pm, Football Courts, Prospect Park, Liebenrood Road, RG30 2ND

Jog / Walk, Monday 6.30-7.15pm, Meet near main car park, Prospect Park, Liebenrood Road, RG30 2ND

Walk, Monday 11-12pm, Meet near main car park, Prospect Park, Liebenrood Road, RG30 2ND

Basketball, Monday 11-12pm, Meet near main car park, Prospect Park, Liebenrood Road, RG30 2ND

Allotment Gardening, Tuesday 11-1pm, Woodley - Call contact Liz - 07341 267770

Dance, Tuesday 11-12pm, Cintra Park, Reading RG2 7ES

Jog / Walk, Thursday 6.30-7.15pm, Meet near statue, Palmer Park, RG6 1LF

Tennis, Thursday 1.00-2.00pm, Outdoor Tennis Courts, Reading Uni, Shinfield Rd, Reading, RG2 7BW.

Improve your mental health with Mindfulness Walks (Maidenhead). The sessions are for all abilities and all about moving a little more in a safe supportive environment.

No need to book and no referral required. Contact Laura.Brooks@sportinmind.org for details.

Berks & Bucks Football Association.

Join the Board of Directors

Berks & Bucks FA is inviting applications to join the Board of Directors at Berks & Bucks Football Association. They are looking for individuals with skills and experience in Human Resources and People Management who have a passion for developing grassroots football opportunities across the Counties of Berkshire & Buckinghamshire. Football has the power to Change Lives and Connect People, and this is why they do what they do.

These are exciting times for the County FA as they support football's response and recovery from Covid and look forward to the launch of the new 3 year strategy and a relocation of the County FA office. The successful candidate for these roles will be instrumental in helping the County FA to achieve their ambitions.

Deadline for applications is Tuesday 1^st June.

Independent Non-Executive Director Vacancy (INED) HR/People Director

Independent Non-Executive Director Vacancy (INED) Commercial & Partnerships Director

GBA New Team Member

Meet Ryan Gordon

Ryan joined GBA in May as an Activities Officer (Employability & Crime Prevention). With his qualification in Sport and Physical Activity and background in Cricket, Ryan is to support the GBA programmes with delivery and training sessions.

Ryan said: 'Sport and Physical activity have been a huge part of my life, from my schooling in Zimbabwe I have carried forward the values that sport and being active is so important to one's mental and physical health. That passion for sport continued through university and still has a huge influence in my life today. I wish I had more time to play more sports, but I still play cricket every weekend in the summer for a local club and enjoy a game of golf during the winter months. I look forward to bringing this passion and experience from my past experiences to my new role at Get Berkshire Active'.

Contact Ryan at Ryan.Gordon@getberkshireactive.org

Female Volunteers Wanted!

Get Berkshire Active and Home-Start Slough have collaborated on a new allotment project!

The allotment project aims to support women in Slough at risk or suffering with perinatal mental health by offering a community-led allotment project which provides social connections, physical activity, mental health support and helps reduce isolation following Covid restrictions. The project is a collaborative local partnership between Home-Start Slough, Frimley Integrated Care Service, Get Berkshire Active and Wexham Park Hospital. Women will be crossed referred from this project to Mums' Zone.

The project requires volunteers to support the women at the allotment – please see the advert attached.

To find out more contact 01753572958 or office@hsslough.co.uk