The story of TIF so far in the South West of England

The fund has focused on the communities that have been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19, to try and prevent the inequalities gap from widening and to minimise the impact on activity levels. These priority audiences are:

• Culturally diverse communities
• Disabled people
• People with long term health conditions
• People on low incomes

Wesport received funding through TIF to support partners across the West of England through phases 1 and 2 of the national programme of work. Nearly £160,000 was allocated to local organisations who support those most affected by Covid-19 and the conditions of the lockdown and restrictions.

Through phase 2 of the fund, Sport England invested further through National Partners across England. This saw Voscur, the support and development agency for Bristol’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector working in partnership with Black South West Network (BSWN) a Black-led racial justice charity organisation based in Bristol. Recognising by working together we could further increase the reach of TIF, Wesport, Voscur and BSWN worked in partnership to ensure investment complimented existing delivery and supported the long term use of sport and physical activity as a tool for wider health and wellbeing.

Projects have seen great success at reaching communities and engaging people during one of the most challenging times, projects have included:

• Bristol Black Carers – armchair exercise classes
• Active Being – 121 walk and talk projects 
• Sporting Family Change – doorstep exercises sessions and 121 support
• Open Minds Active – kitchen dance disco parties
• Imayla – orienteering maps encouraging families to use green spaces 
• Yate Active Wellbeing Group – online workout videos and social sessions to support members 
• South Weston Activity Network – activity packs as part of wider summer picnic programme

Ruth Glanvill  Wesport Project Manager added:

“TIF has allowed us to create the space to truly listen to partners, collaboratively develop opportunities and sustain physical activity in a place. We’ve had the time to understand how projects connect to a system and join up conversations strategically. It has allowed us to have wider conversations instead of reducing relationships with partners to a project or programme.”