Project Start: 4/1/25

Project End: 31/03/29

Lead Researcher: Dr Katie Shearn

The National Evaluation and Learning Partnership for Place is a four-year evaluation programme led by the AWRC alongside partners including Collaborate CIC, Hartpury University, Coventry University and Substance Ltd.

The evaluation is funded by Sport England and is aimed at understanding and explaining various barriers and opportunities for physical activity and how this differs based on local contexts in communities across the country.

Levels of activity differ between individuals due to many factors including personal characteristics, home/work life, the places people live, and broader social trends. This evaluation will look at all these different factors and assess this ‘whole-system approach’, which has been embedded in communities through previous funding into physical activity programmes by Sport England.

It will also evaluate these programmes through community insight and experiences from the people who live and work in different places to understand what drives physical activity and supports change in their area, known as a ‘place-based’ approach.

Findings from the evaluation will be used to shape policy and practice for physical activity interventions, a key area of focus for the new government in its drive to move from sickness to prevention in the NHS.

The programme marks the continuation of a successful collaboration between Sport England and the evaluation partners who have worked together over the last three years to share their expertise and experience to develop new ways to evaluate programmes aimed at reducing inequalities in physical activity levels and improving population health.

The team has previously led evaluation of 12 pilot areas, with this new evaluation looking at a further 68 places.