What is the Active for Life fund?
Active for Life is an evidence-based, behaviour change, physical activity campaign for adults aged 60 plus.
Guidance notes
Introduction
The "Active for Life" campaign aims to encourage Camden’s inactive residents aged 60 plus to become and remain physically active in the long term. This fund invites VCS organisations to work in collaboration with us to increase the reach and impact of the campaign.
There is clear and compelling evidence that being regularly active in later life will promote an individual’s independence, wellbeing, health and quality of life. Yet adults aged 60 years and above can be encouraged to “put their feet up” as they age, societal stereotypes reinforce inactive living in later life, and people may be missing the hook to enable them to enjoy the local activity that works best for them. Since the COVID pandemic we are seeing more adults aged 60 plus becoming deconditioned.
We have drawn on evidence from behavioural science and successful practice in other areas to develop the Active for Life campaign. With so many existing physical activities and initiatives in the borough already, we want to reach as many adults aged 60 plus as we can to connect them to what is on offer and consider what else we can be doing to promote physical activity together in future.
Your help as VCS organisation with strong connections to adults aged 60 and over will help progress this campaign further and in new ways. It was so helpful to run our VCS campaign briefing event in July 2023, the feedback we have received so far suggests that the Active for Life campaign is coming at the right time and proceeding in the right way.
Applications from individual organisations are unlikely to be awarded more than £10,000. We suggest you keep this in mind for your application and pitch your proposal anywhere up to this mark. But if you have some great ideas that could make all the difference, please let us know separately what could be achieved with additional funding above £10k (specifying how much you would need).
We are particularly interested in receiving applications from pairs or groups of VCS partners who wish to work together on this campaign. We are seeking individual or partnership applications that between them provide a geographic coverage across the borough and help to reach those generally less likely to engage with physical activity campaigns on their own initiative.
The campaign is scheduled to begin in March 2024. There is a total of £30,000 available.
Aims and objectives of the fund
The aim of this fund is to boost initiatives that support the overall aims of the Active for Life campaign. Active for Life aims to encourage Camden’s inactive residents aged 60 plus to become and remain physically active in the long term.
The Health and Wellbeing, and Sport and Physical activity teams will lead the campaign preparing behaviourally informed materials and tools that will support residents and VCS partners. These include incentives, bespoke website, online and paper-based registration options, booklet for participants (on embedding behaviour change techniques), newsletters and social media posts.
We invite submissions that contain community outreach proposals to reach residents aged 60 plus to promote the offer and help them find a suitable physical activity opportunity. There is a focus on funding organisations and partnerships that are proactive in reaching people who may not be sufficiently active.
It is expected the funding will cover the following activities and time frames:
Support strategic planning & evaluation of the campaign
- Working group meetings - Oct 2023 - Mar 2024
- Create delivery plan - Jan - Mar 2024
- Evaluation - Jul - 2024
Engage with residents aged 60+ to encourage and support their participation in the campaign.
- Campaign work - Mar - June 2024 (12 weeks)
Your proposals
We are looking to fund proposals that support the campaign in the following areas:
Physical activity
Signposting inactive residents aged over 60 to physical activities and opportunities that are accessible and interesting to them. These may range from promoting walking for travel or in our green spaces to sports or community and leisure centre-based activities provided by successful applicants, or providers across the borough. A good understanding of the broad physical activity offer in Camden would be useful in this work – we have a good picture of this but appreciate this is extensive and owned by many organisations.
Coordination and collaboration
Bringing together VCS organisations and a wide range of physical activity providers to maximise the impact of the campaign.
Outreach
Engaging inactive residents aged over 60 is key. We are keen to hear of proactive approaches to reach inactive residents aged over 60 including those who may be isolated and lonely.
Communication
Amplifying the messages and using the communication assets provided to maximise reach and impact. A detailed communication plan and supporting resources will be produced centrally.
What we will fund
Grants awarded through this programme are restricted to the of services and activities that support the Active for life campaign. Proposals should have a clear focus on being proactive in reaching inactive residents aged over 60 and supporting them to engage in suitable physical activity options.
Examples of the proposals which will be eligible are set out below, but this list is not
exhaustive. We are very open to your creativity:
- Support residents to sign up to the campaign, collect campaign materials and start conversations about finding suitable physical activity opportunities
- Coordinate and host drop in social events (that include other local providers) to share the broadest possible offer
- Coordinate and host taster sessions and physical activity events; on site, outside, directly delivered or by other local providers
- Engage with residents once signed up to support adherence to their physical activity choices.
- Amplify the communication assets in the partner toolkit. Using a variety of channels to maximise their impact
Eligibility
Organisations can apply as individuals or as a partnership. Every organisation involved in the application will need to be a not-for-profit organisation, in one of the following groups:
- Registered Charity
- Community Group
- Co-operative
- Faith Group
- Social Enterprise (that reinvests 100% of surplus income into the organisation and that does not have a ‘profit distribution’ clause in its governing documents)
- Community Interest Company
Every activity listed in the proposal will need to be run by an organisation that has the following documents in place:
- Professional Indemnity Insurance
- Public Liability Insurance
- Employers Liability Insurance
- Safeguarding Policy
- Data Protection Policy
- Equal Opportunities Policy
Every organisation listed in the application that employs staff or contractors should
pay the London Living Wage as a minimum.
Application process and assessment criteria
To apply to the Active for Life VCS fund you should complete your application
through the Time to Spare web page.
Applications will be accepted from 19 September 2023 until 11.59pm 16 October 2023.
Enquiries about the campaign and the funding application and process should be
directed to activeforlife@camden.gov.uk
Decision making process
Your application will be reviewed, if we need to clarify anything we may contact you to discuss your proposal.
After reviewing your proposal, recommendations for funding will be submitted for
final decision to the Director of Recreation and the Assistant director of Public Health.
We aim to inform you of the outcome of your application by the end of October 2023
at the latest.