Active Gloucestershire strengthens support for Gloucester and Cinderford communities through national Place Universal Offer

Active Gloucestershire is expanding its work in Gloucester and Cinderford as part of a major national investment from Sport England, designed to help communities tackle inactivity and improve health and wellbeing across the county.

The funding comes through Sport England’s Place Universal Offer – a £25 million programme running to 2028 that supports 30 Active Partnerships across the country to drive locally led change and reduce inequalities in physical activity.

Through this approach, Active Gloucestershire is working with partners, organisations and residents in Gloucester and Cinderford to build the skills, knowledge and connections needed to create long-term, sustainable increases in activity levels. The Place Universal Offer focuses on developing “whole system” ways of working – recognising that where people live, and the opportunities available to them, play a major role in how active they are.

This approach is already starting to show promise in places like Podsmead in Gloucester and Cinderford in the Forest of Dean.

In Podsmead, Gloucester, Active Gloucestershire has been working with more than 35 local partners, residents and community organisations to understand the root causes of inactivity and co‑design solutions. Through workshops, community‑led planning and investment in local capacity, the work in Podsmead is helping to build trusted relationships, align organisations around shared priorities, and create the conditions for long‑term change.

In Cinderford, the place-based partnership has been developing new ways of working since 2023, bringing together local stakeholders and residents to identify priorities, build community capacity and create opportunities for people to be active in ways that suit their lives. This work continues to progress thanks to the Place Universal funding provided by Sport England.

Early action ideas span community projects, health and wellbeing initiatives and local engagement activities, demonstrating how place‑based investment can unlock collaboration, strengthen community voice and begin to tackle deep‑rooted inequalities.

These locally tailored approaches are designed to empower communities to lead change themselves, ensuring solutions are shaped by local insight and need.

Across Gloucestershire, nearly a quarter of residents are currently inactive, with significant inequalities affecting certain communities.

The Place Universal Offer will help address this by:

• Strengthening partnerships across health, local government, community organisations and the voluntary sector
• Providing tools, learning and resources to support place-based working
• Building confidence and capability within communities to take action
• Targeting support where it is most needed, while sharing learning across the county

By connecting local action in places like Gloucester and Cinderford with wider county-wide support, Active Gloucestershire aims to create lasting change that makes being active a normal part of everyday life for everyone.

Kirsty Dunleavy Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Active Gloucestershire, said:

“This investment is a significant opportunity for Gloucestershire. Through the Place Universal Offer, we can deepen our work in communities like these, listening to local people and supporting them to shape the opportunities that will help them move more in ways that matter to them.

We know that tackling inactivity isn’t something any one organisation can do alone. By working in partnership and taking a whole-system approach, we can address the barriers people face and create environments where being active is accessible, inclusive and part of everyday life.

Ultimately, this is about creating long-term change – improving health, strengthening communities and ensuring that everyone in Gloucestershire has the opportunity to live healthy, happy, active lives.”

Driving long-term change

Active Gloucestershire, which coordinates the county’s we can move social movement, is committed to tackling inactivity as one of the biggest challenges facing local communities.

Through the Place Universal Offer, the organisation will continue to work alongside partners and residents to break down barriers, reduce inequalities and help more people enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of an active lifestyle.

This investment marks an important step forward in creating a healthier, more active Gloucestershire – where every community has the opportunity, support and confidence to move more.