Active Braintree
Strengthening sport and physical activity networks in Braintree District
Active Braintree is one of 14 Find Your Active networks across Essex, established to lead, develop and coordinate sport and physical activity at a local level in partnership with Active Essex.
Led by the Active Braintree Foundation, the network brings together organisations and individuals who share a commitment to improving physical activity levels across the district.
The network focuses on supporting residents who are active but not yet meeting the recommended 150 minutes of activity per week, alongside those who are currently inactive. Through collaboration and partnership working, Active Braintree ensures that opportunities to be active are visible, accessible and shaped by local need.
Active Essex has provided strategic leadership, funding and ongoing trustee support to enable Active Braintree to deliver local priorities, including acting as the accountable body for district funding, strengthening connections between health, leisure and community partners, offering guidance on local activation and national insight, shaping district priorities aligned to the Find Your Active movement, and enabling capacity‑building activity such as funding workshops and club governance support.
Active Essex’s involvement has helped provide stability, accountability and direction, enabling the network to focus on delivering meaningful, locally led impact.
Active Braintree is supported by a strong partnership network that includes the Trustees of the Active Braintree Foundation, Braintree District Council, Freedom Leisure, local sports clubs and community organisations, Health and Wellbeing Panel partners, and local volunteers and community leaders, all working together to strengthen and enhance sport and physical activity opportunities across the district.
Key Learnings Include:
- Place-based advocacy networks like Active Braintree demonstrate the importance of using local knowledge and relationships to respond effectively to community-specific needs.
- The Active Braintree Awards highlighted the impact of recognising and celebrating volunteers and leaders, helping to inspire continued delivery of sport and physical activity opportunities locally.
- The Small Grants programme showed a clear demand for flexible, accessible funding to support grassroots growth. It also identified ongoing challenges around capacity building, particularly supporting clubs to operate safely, sustainably and inclusively in the long term.
Active Braintree has been able to support the mobilisation of wider local campaigns and initiatives, including the Find Your Active Braintree Navigator and Holiday and Food Activity summer family events. More broadly, the network has strengthened relationships between leisure providers, the local authority and community groups, creating a more connected and collaborative local system.
What’s next?
Active Braintree will continue to support the district’s sport and physical activity sector while planning for the future. This includes exploring how the network can provide stability and support to local organisations during ongoing system changes linked to Local Government Reorganisation, devolution and NHS reform.
