The project will combine resources and expertise to tackle the unmet needs of 15,000 disadvantaged local young people and their families in the next two years.

The partnership aims to bring young people into community sport, provide access to our Manchester Institute of Health & Performance to experience sporting opportunities, teach children to cycle and inspire the next generation of community leaders.

Compared to England, Manchester has almost double the number of children under 16 living in poverty and a significantly higher percentage of children aged 10 to 11 who have excess weight.  In the UK, around 31 per cent of people aged under 18 years are categorised as physically inactive. This rises to 42 per cent when considering those living with low resources.

The partnership will build upon Access Sport’s award-winning community sport development model whilst utilising our Nuffield’s facilities, health and fitness experts and educational resources to give more local people and neighbourhoods, the tools to live a healthier life. 

“This is an extremely important opportunity for Access Sport and Nuffield Health to help even more young people. The bringing together of the experience and expertise of these two organisations - both acknowledged as leaders in their field - will significantly improve the physical and mental wellbeing of young people whose lives have been made significantly more difficult in recent times. This is an ambitious project, and I believe it is truly worthwhile,” said Paul Lee OBE, Access Sport trustee and chair of the Access Sport Greater Manchester Steering Group.