Agenda item

A presentation is within the agenda pack for the Panel regarding this subject .

The Active Travel Social Prescribing Project Manager addressed the Panel and highlighted the following points from the presentation within the agenda pack.

The Active Way is…

•Promoting social prescribing into a range of active travel activities

•Offering a broad cycling, walking and wheeling offer with interventions for all age groups and needs

•Building people’s confidence, motivation, knowledge and skills to engage with walking and cycling activities long-term.

•Evaluating any positive outcomes we find in relation to improved health and wellbeing, any correlation to reduced GP and Hospital visits from participants and any increases in the use of local infrastructure (cycle paths, use of parks and walking routes).

He explained that social prescribing was a very busy area of work that engages with both the local community and the 3^rd sector. He said that the team has worked hard to achieve the levels of trust now in place.

Who the Active Way is for

There is something for everyone, we want to be as inclusive as possible and are unlikely to turn anyone away, but we are targeting based on need and inequality;

•People living in deprived areas with low levels of physical activity

•People with long term conditions

•Underrepresented groups

•People with Multiple morbidity

•People with disabilities

•People suffering from anxiety and lack of confidence

•People not in education, training or (well paid) employment

•Ethnic minority groups (Global Majority)

We are offering activities to communities across the Somer Valley and Bath & North East Somerset based on need.

He said that the benefits of the Active Way are being realised by its users and that the University of West of England were monitoring and providing analysis on it.

Outcomes (qualitative and quantitative)

·  Improved health and wellbeing

·  Social Connections and improved life outcomes (employability, confidence and skills)

·  Increases in physical activity levels

·  Provided skills and resources to local charities and organisations to sustain active travel

·  Greater awareness of local area, cycling and walking routes

·  Investment in local economy

·  Widescale engagement with stakeholders

·  Successful targeted approach to those with the most need

He said that some gaps in provision have been recognised and that they were now seeking to pre-empt what next steps should be put in place. He added that nature-based walks have been suggested as an example.

Councillor Michael Auton said that he commended the work undertaken so far and that he recognised the positive impact it has had on the mental and physical health of those involved.

Councillor Liz Hardman thanked the team involved for their work and said she could see why the pilot has been so successful. She asked if the funding from Active Travel England was due continue.

The Active Travel Social Prescribing Project Manager replied that no further indication has yet been given regarding further funding. He added that they are considering making an approach to WECA (West of England Combined Authority) to see if they are in a position to provide any funding.

Councillor Lesley Mansell said that she felt that this was an important area of work to pursue and would encourage seeking whether WECA could provide some funding. She asked how the impact on users would be measured, what can be done with regard to affordability and how can the message about the service be circulated to more young people.

The Active Travel Social Prescribing Project Manager replied that sessions have been held with Youth Connect South West and local schools to raise awareness of the service. He said that it was recognised that affordability is a factor and said that some bikes can be hired for a range of time periods. He added that they were looking at whether the e-bike and scooter schemes can be expanded across B&NES.

He said that UWE were providing an analysis on the pilot and also a participant questionnaire was in use to gather feedback.

Councillor Mansell asked if data related to age, gender and disability were being sought as part of the process.

The Active Travel Social Prescribing Project Manager replied that this was set to be captured in the questionnaire and that they were working on the best way to facilitate the responses.

Kevin Burnett asked how this work fitted in with the overall travel plans across the Council.

The Active Travel Social Prescribing Project Manager replied that they work with the Transport team and said that the Active Travel Masterplan work remains ongoing following its adoption by the Council in February 2025. He added that they were always looking for potential new routes.

The Chair asked if the data collected would show how many low-income families are participating in the service. She also asked how the service could be future proofed.

The Active Travel Social Prescribing Project Manager replied that he believed this information would be sought as part of the survey. He added that a feasibility study was carried out at the start of the process to show potential groups to work with / approach.

In terms of the onward journey, he said that it would be vital to continue to provide education on the issue at an early stage and to use the knowledge gained to build on what is required.

The Chair thanked him for the presentation on behalf of the Panel and wished the team well with their future work.