Find Your Active Chelmsford
Empowering Chelmsford communities to get active
Working closely with Chelmsford City Council to ensure that local physical activity opportunities are shared widely and that community organisations feel supported, connected, and equipped to encourage residents to become more active.
Through strong partnership working and targeted investment, Chelmsford has benefitted from a range of new community projects that directly support local health and wellbeing priorities, particularly reducing excess weight and inactivity.
Funding from both the Active Essex Small Grants Programme and the Places and Spaces Fund, supported by the London Marathon Foundation, has enabled grassroots organisations across the district to create inclusive, sustainable projects that meet the needs of local residents. These investments have been guided by the priorities of the Chelmsford Health and Wellbeing Board, with a particular focus on children and adults who are inactive, isolated, or face barriers to participation.
Active Essex has played a central role, connecting Chelmsford City Council with community groups, voluntary organisations and local partners who may not have previously worked together. This collaborative approach ensured that:
- Funding reached the right organisations at the right time.
- Groups were signposted to the most suitable grants, including locally led Find Your Active Small Grants.
- Previously unconnected partners, particularly those supporting women and girls, were introduced to one another to strengthen their work and avoid duplication.
- Local insights from the Find Your Active Navigator shaped district priorities and supported residents directly into activities.
The Find Your Active Chelmsford Network continues to act as a strategic platform for organisations to share updates, discuss challenges, and celebrate successes, creating a more coordinated and effective offer for local residents.
The success of this work has been driven by strong partnership collaboration across the Chelmsford district. Central to this has been the Find Your Active Chelmsford Network, which brings partners together to share insights, strengthen connections and coordinate local delivery.
Chelmsford City Council has played a key role in shaping priorities and supporting organisations to access funding, alongside 13 dedicated community partners working across physical activity, community development and health and wellbeing. Together, these partners have created a more joined‑up, responsive and supportive infrastructure for residents and organisations alike.
Examples of successful projects funded include:
- Chelmsford Cycle Rides – supporting families to explore safe new routes
- Make Space for Girls initiative in Central Park – enabling young women to influence the design of welcoming physical activity spaces
Key Learnings and Challenges
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Safeguarding and readiness gaps
Applications fell short due to weaknesses in safeguarding, planning or organisational readiness.
Need for application support
Partners highlighted the value of dedicated help, including workshops on writing stronger bids.
Improving Safeguarding Knowledege
Chelmsford partners recommended boosting organisational safeguarding skills.
Extended reach through collaboration
The network has broadened local impact through improved signposting and delivery.
Shared learning opportunities
Bringing together organisations serving similar audiences has enabled useful exchanges.
Better insight into community needs
Insights have deepened understanding of real local priorities and challenges.
The coordinated approach across Chelmsford has reduced siloed working and encouraged organisations to share knowledge, challenges and opportunities. This has strengthened community infrastructure and helped create more sustainable local projects that reflect resident needs.
Active Essex and Chelmsford City Council hope to continue this collaborative approach into the next financial year, connecting even more organisations and supporting the development of new physical activity opportunities across the district.
By strengthening the Find Your Active Chelmsford network and supporting organisations through funding such as Small Grants and the Places and Spaces Fund, we’ve been able to empower more local groups to reach residents who are inactive, isolated or facing barriers to participation. The growing collaboration across Chelmsford shows what’s possible when partners share insight, connect their strengths and work with a truly community focused approach. I’m proud of the progress made and excited to see this impact continue to grow.Chloe Hinds, Relationship Development Officer, Mid Essex
