Southend Children and Young People Network
Building a stronger physical activity system
Throughout 2025, Active Essex worked with partners across Southend-on-Sea to rebuild and revitalise the local physical activity system, supporting children and young people (CYP) most affected by inequalities linked to crime, SEND needs, education and training barriers and unhealthy weight. This work also benefited families, schools, system leaders and community organisations striving to create a more inclusive, coordinated physical activity ecosystem.
As part of understanding the local picture, insight showed that children in years 1–4 report lower enjoyment, competence and confidence in physical activity than national averages, signalling that early intervention is needed.
The overarching ambition was to rebuild and strengthen Southend’s physical activity system through a collaborative, insight-led investment process that aligned partners behind shared CYP priorities. A secondary objective focused on improving outcomes for children and young people by embedding physical activity across education, health, SEND pathways, community safety and wider city systems, ensuring movement becomes a thread running through everyday life in Southend.
To achieve this, Active Essex convened a wide range of partners including Southend City Council teams, schools, SEND organisations, community and voluntary groups, Freedom Leisure, Youth Services, and young people themselves.
Working collectively, these partners co-produced a Southend Investment Document, identifying local strengths, existing assets and opportunities for physical activity to contribute to four shared priority outcomes; crime reduction, SEND, education and training, and unhealthy weight. This collaborative process re-energised the Active Southend network, strengthened relationships and set a shared direction for future investment, governance and whole-system action.
Using a place-based, asset-led approach aligned to the Fit for the Future strategy, Active Essex:
- Re-established trust across fragmented system partners.
- Facilitated cross-system workshops and conversations.
- Curated insight from schools, SEND forums, community groups and young people.
- Ensured lived experience and youth voice shaped priorities.
- Led and coordinated the co-design of the Southend Investment Document.
The collaborative investment process has generated a wide range of system-wide benefits. The Active Southend network has now been re-established with stronger cross-system ownership and a clearer shared purpose, helping partners reconnect around collective priorities. There is also a noticeable increase in appetite for collaboration, with several organisations beginning to explore joint funding bids and aligned delivery approaches. New thematic subgroups have formed to continue shaping shared action beyond the initial investment phase, ensuring momentum is sustained.
Strengthened relationships with Freedom Leisure have led to new conversations about expanding swimming access, early years play opportunities and broader CYP pathways. Youth voice has also been significantly elevated, with Youth Council and Youth Health Champions now influencing decisions across the CYP priority areas.
Additionally, there is growing interest in system leadership development, recognising the importance of shared accountability and collective capability in driving long-term improvement.
Key Learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Ways of Working
Fragmentation and siloed working limited progress, however investment process rebuilt alignment.
Research
CYP insight highlighted gaps in all priority areas, reinforcing the need for youth-led co-design....
Capacity
Pressures in schools highlighted opportunities to use wider system partners to unlock capacity.
Inclusivity
SEND challenges were widely reported, signalling the need for workforce upskilling.
Evaluation
Shared data and insight played a critical role in validating priorities and unifying partners.
The next phase focuses on activation, sustained collaboration and long-term system growth. The upcoming Expression of Interest (EOI) process will identify projects aligned to CYP priorities and lived experience insight. Partners will explore ways to integrate physical activity into future city developments and events, such as Pride of Southend: City Day.
Active Essex will lead Sport England / CVS funding sessions and provide targeted clinics to support investment readiness. A Southend Stakeholder Discovery Day will unite partners around shared priorities and future investment direction.
Governance proposals will be developed to ensure long-term sustainability for Find Your Active / Active Southend, and targeted school engagement will continue, particularly in areas with the highest obesity rates or lowest confidence in activity. Youth voice will remain central, with future interventions expected to be co-produced with CYP, parents and carers.
The work happening across Southend is a powerful example of what can be achieved when partners unite behind a shared ambition for children and young people. By rebuilding trust, elevating youth voice and aligning system leaders, we’ve seen a fragmented landscape transform into a connected, energised network committed to tackling the inequalities faced by local families and communities.Stuart Tryhorn, Relationship Development Officer South East Essex
