A group of organisations, including Ealing Council, the NHS, Southall Community Alliance, charities, voluntary groups and a variety of other service providers are working together on a new programme to help people in Southall to be more physically active.

Southall was one of 12 areas across the country and one of only two towns in London to be selected in December 2017 for the innovative Sport England funded programme, which is funded by the National Lottery.

Southall was put forward for the pilot by Ealing Council because it has a number of challenges which could contribute to residents being less active. Encouraging people to be more physically active is an important priority for the council because it helps people to live healthy, independent lives for longer.

As well as the council, NHS and other public services, many community organisations, businesses, charities and faith groups are involved in the pilot. Southall is one of the most ethnically diverse towns in the country and has a real sense of community and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The focus of the pilot project will be on harnessing that entrepreneurial spirit to help the community to develop its own long-term solutions, which will help people to make lasting changes to their lifestyles.

What does it mean for Southall?

Let’s Go Southall is not about simply providing new sports facilities or services. It is about many organisations working in partnership with residents to understand why some people are inactive and what might be done to help them to change.

The team aims to make lasting improvements, so that when the programme ends, people continue to be more active.