Walk, Jog, Run! Tendring

Walk, Jog, Run! Tendring is a pilot project that has been developed through a partnership between Fitter Futures, England Athletics East, Sport England, Essex Athletics Development Group, Colchester and Tendring Athletic Club with additional sponsorship from Thompson Smith & Puxon Solicitors based in Clacton and Colchester.  The project has also received interest from the national team at England Athletics who are looking at developing a national Jog England programme based on the Jog Scotland model.  The team are interested in the outcomes of the Tendring project to inform that development and have provided additional funding and training support.

The project is a one year pilot and a project activator/coach has been employed on a part time basis (12 hours per week) to work with local employers, community organisations and running clubs to offer regular walking and running sessions for adults across Tendring.  Advice on nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices will also be available and participants will be encouraged to continue the good work they’ve started in the longer term.  The project was launched to the public on the 7^th September.

Project Launch Photos

In addition to the activities being provided throughout the Tendring District, the pilot project is also working closely with the Phoenix Striders Athletic Club in Basildon, who have been running a similar style initiative on a purely informal, voluntary basis.  Links will be maintained between the two areas to share learning and development opportunities where possible.  For example, Jog Leader training opportunities provided by England Athletics to support the pilots have already been attended by club members from both areas.

The key aims of the project are:

• To increase the level of adult participation in physical activity (particularly those in midlife) through walking and recreational running opportunities.
• To test approaches to engaging adults in activity opportunities, for example working in community settings, with local employers and community groups and giving consideration to the timings of activities and promotion methods.
• To encourage and support club development to enable clubs to attract a wider section of the community and to provide appropriate exit routes for new participants.

4 sessions a week are currently on offer and include:

Six Month Review

A six month review of the project took place in April. The review identified similarities between both the Tendring and Basildon projects and the key findings are presented below:

Critical success factors for current progress:

Key challenges in the first six months:

Average participation figures (up to six months):

The participation figures have been lower than anticipated to date, however, taking into account the challenges experienced so far the review correctly identifies that the high level of commitment to delivering the activity sessions shown by the Activators and Coaches in both areas, despite these challenges, has been the single biggest factor in the project achieving the areas of success it has.

Critical actions and success factors over the next 6 months:

-   Steering group role and membership to be revised and support required from the steering group to the project needs to be clarified in order to ensure the group is being effective.