More residents wanted to help shape health and activity support
A movement to empower Wirral residents to improve strength and balance is calling for residents to join a research group.
Funded by Wirral Council Public Health and delivered by Wirral Council’s Active Wirral Team and Partners, ‘Active You’ aims to help people increase their physical activity and strengthen key skills known to reduce the risk of falls and health conditions in later life.
Working alongside partners from Liverpool John Moore’s University, Active You aims to explore what both motivates and prevents people from taking part in physical activity. This research will then lead to community-based activities which are tailor-made to support and encourage people to lead more active lifestyles.
Through a series of four interactive workshops, Active You will develop new ways to help people get moving, based on direct feedback gathered from people in the age group they wish to support in the future.
The first workshop, which took place in March 2025, saw residents meet with staff from the Falls Prevention team, Community Connectors, local care provider Home Instead, Wirral Public Health Insights team and more. Together, the group explored behaviours linked to being inactive, as well as issues around education, awareness.
The next workshop will take place on Thursday 1 May 2025.
Cllr Ann Ainsworth, Vice-Chair of Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee, said:
In your 40s-60s you may not think you’ve reached an age where less movement or a fall could change your life. But improving balance and coordination will help you to stay active, lively and mobile as you get older.
Active You is about creating a culture where movement is a priority. And it’s easier to prioritise exercise and activity it it’s more accessible.
Listening to residents’ ideas and thoughts about how they would prefer to access this kind of support will help us tailor services to our communities and target resources where they will have the most benefit.
The group will take part in a series of workshops, sharing their experiences, opinions and ideas about the barriers to being active, as well as what kind of support they think could help people make positive lifestyle changes.
They want to work with people primarily in the 40-64 year age group who are still active, but feel they could benefit from some help to maintain their health and fitness levels as they age.
Cllr Ainsworth said:
If you are in this age group and you want to keep yourself feeling strong, please consider joining this research group. Your experiences and ideas will help shape the future of physical activity support to keep our communities thriving.
Active You forms part of the borough’s Active Wirral strategy to make sport and activity part of residents’ everyday lives.
The next workshop will take place on Thursday 1 May 2025. Full details will be shared with residents who sign up to join the group. You did not have to attend the first workshop to join the second.
To register your interest, email activeyou@wirral.gov.uk.
