Over 100 partners attend the 6th LRS Annual Conference ‘Transforming Places, Transforming Lives’

This year's Annual Conference gave local partner organisations the opportunity to hear from a range of speakers and join in with workshops and Q&A sessions throughout the day centred around this year's theme 'Transforming Places, Transforming Lives'.

Mike Sandys, LRS Board, Vice Chair compered the conference and highlighted the importance of this year's theme and the need to understand our people and places to meet our vision of becoming the most physically active and sporting place in England. Mike said: "This year's theme continues to build on the whole systems approach, looking at how physical activity and sport can transform places and lives, but also how by transforming places and lives it can also have an impact on physical activity and sport participation."

Our Keynote speakers delivered some powerful and inspiring talks, Hayley Lever, CEO of Greater Manchester Moving, talked around GM Moving and the #ActiveSoles initiative. #ActiveSoles is both choosing and being able to wear flat, comfortable shoes or trainers in a working environment enabling the wearer to move more, having a positive impact on both work and activity levels. Hayley's key messages from her Keynote speech were, 'be ambitious, be brave, set targets and challenge those organisations to make a transformation.'

Andrea Kemp, CEO of Shift, outlined the importance of empowering local people, especially in disadvantaged communities, to build activity into their lives as individuals and whole communities. For public services to enable local people to realise and fulfil their potential as project leaders, creators and volunteers are critical to sustaining behaviour change and allowing communities to take ownership of the physical activity and health projects and services that will benefit them.

Dr Stefan Kruczkowski, a specialist urban designer working internationally and the joint author of "Building for Life", shared the need for a more collaborative approach and innovation between public and private sector partners in developing the built environment. Giving examples of international and innovative "Active Environments" he set out how that the possibilities for our built environment can be one that can encourage communities to be active if we design our streets, buildings and living spaces collaboratively and with health and the centre of design and decisions. Encouraging active transport, connecting places and spaces and intelligent use of green spaces are all important for developing the future healthy built environment.

Throughout the conference delegates not only had the opportunity to join in with #activesoles and don their active/comfortable footwear for the day, they also had the chance to put their comfortable shoes into action by joining in with their own Daily Boost sessions.

The first Daily Boost performance of the day, delivered by our Daily Boost Activator, Anita Bird along with pupils from St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy, performed an energising routine to the Black Eyed Peas's Number one hit, 'I've got a feeling'!

All staff and delegates took part in afternoon workshops covering topics such as, 'Real Time Working' with Andrea Kemp, 'Movement Building and System Change' with Hayley Lever, 'Involving Charities to Influence & Shape Communities' with Nadine Good and 'Active Environments' with Dr Stefan Kruczkowski.

Everyone came together again for the final celebration of our partnership changing places, changing lives, but not before the final boost session of the day led by Anita Bird, with a showstopping routine to Donna Summer's, Hot Stuff, which got the whole room dancing!

The final task of the day ended by asking everyone what they had learnt today that could have an impact on tomorrow? With Mike Sandys bringing the conference to a final close by saying, "I hope today has been of use to you all and has provided a time for reflection, celebration and learning. The LRS Board and Core Team look forward to working with our partners over the next year to continue to Transform Places and Lives."

For pictures from the day, please visit our Facebook Page.