Many communities across Northumberland and Tyne & Wear face much greater inequalities than others – and we’re working to identify and support these communities using a ‘place based approach’ to be more physically active.
Adopting a place based approach can have a profound impact, creating conditions in places to tackle inequalities and make healthier living and an active life more accessible.
Why ‘place based’ approach?
A place based approach is community focused and led by the drive and insights of the people who live and work there.
The evidence tells us that the place where a person is born and lives can have a huge influence on how likely they are to be physically active.
By taking a place based approach we can better understand and then overcome the barriers that people are facing, using our knowledge and resources to level things up and help ensure everyone has access to activity.
Why Northumberland and North Tyneside?
Sport England has committed to a transformative expansion of its place based partnerships, with an investment of £250 million over the next five years to engage with 80 new places.
Across Northumberland and North Tyneside, there are areas which experience health inequalities and have higher than average physical inactivity levels. In October 2025, Rise successfully secured Place Universal Offer funding from Sport England to invest in targeted areas until March 2028.
Through working with partners who work alongside our communities that struggle the most, including but not limited to; Local Authorities, health, education and the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector, the funding will be used to develop a deeper understanding and gain insight into the barriers that residents face to being more active.
The areas which have been identified as priority localities include:
Northumberland
- Berwick
- Blyth
- Newbiggin
- Ashington
- Morpeth
North Tyneside
- Percy Main
- Chirton
- New York
- Willington Quay
Contact
To find out more about how we support communities, contact Jade Scott, Strategic Lead for Place.
