Active Together Chairperson reflects on successes as he stands down from Board

Active Together Chairperson Mike Sandys DL has reflected on the organisation's impact as he stands down from its Board.

The organisation's governance rules stipulate that Board members can serve for a maximum of nine years.

It means Mr Sandys, Leicestershire's Director of Public Health, must prepare to make way for a new Chair and leave his place on the Board itself.

"I wish I had more time, but I've reached the nine-year point," he said.

"I'm lucky that my day job will allow me to continue working with Active Together and maintaining what I know is a really important relationship."

Leicestershire based Active Together works with local authorities, sporting, and community groups with the shared goal of getting residents active.

And Mr Sandys considered how public engagement has changed during his time on the Board, adding: "I think the biggest achievement during my time with Active Together is the significant shift in the way physical activity is encouraged.

"I think Active Together and Leicestershire were before our time in that respect, we recognised that sport wasn't the only way to encourage the people of the city and county to get moving and we worked hard to share that message.

"That way of thinking has now been embraced by Sport England and I think that is largely thanks to the approach here in Leicestershire and the dedicated and passionate people involved in this organisation."

Mr Sandys, who has chaired the Active Together board for the last 18 months, added: "I look forward to remaining involved with Active Together and seeing what else can be achieved."

The new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson will be announced shortly , watch this space .

In heading up Active Together for the next three years, the new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson will work with fellow Board members and the leadership team to oversee the wide range of activities and programmes provided by the organisation and its partners.

Their roles will be to help the organisation achieve its aims of reducing inequality of access to physical activity.

Projects encouraging under-represented groups in LLR to realise the many wellbeing and social benefits of living an active life will also be managed by the leadership.

Dr Mary Hardwick, who sits on the Board as Senior Independent Director, said: "On behalf of the board, I thank Mike for his ideas, commitment, and leadership in working towards our goal to improve the health and wellbeing of people in our region.

"Mike's dedication over the last nine years, including during the Pandemic - when he was also managing the county's response to COVID-19 - is commendable.

"We are pleased to be able to continue our working relationship with him."

Active Together's latest strategy, which runs through to 2031, aims to reduce inequalities in physical activity.

It is part of a wider vision for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland to be a place where physical activity is part of daily life, leading to people living healthier and happier lives.