Uttlesford locality
Uttlesford is home to 92,675 residents with a quarter of the population aged over 65 and a healthy life expectancy of 71.7 years. While this may indicate lower levels of inequality, an ageing population can still face distinct challenges, including mobility issues and social isolation. The district also has the lowest proportion of children and young people living in relative low-income families across the county (7.5%).
Uttlesford’s four main towns, Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow, Stansted Mountfitchet and Thaxted sit alongside a large number of rural villages, giving the district a unique character. This rural spread brings both opportunities and challenges for accessing sport and physical activity.
Measuring impact in Uttlesford to improve outcomes for residents
15% of Uttlesford adults are living with a disability/ long-term health condition.
Reconnect is a prevention focused programme delivered by Sport for Confidence to support residents living with a disability and/or long term health condition to get active in a safe environment.
31% of Uttlesford adults aren’t participating in 150+ minutes of activity a week.
The Find Your Active West Place Navigator and the Uttlesford Kinder Essex Coach have built a strong partnership grounded in system-wide awareness, to ensure residents have the opportunity to get active.
45% of Uttlesford young people have a positive attitude to physical activity.
Kidz Active are engaging with children and their families, offering physical activity, enrichment sessions, food nutrition and family days out, supporting residents’ wellbeing and bringing the local community together.
Making movement a priority in Uttlesford
Uttlesford performs well against physical activity rates, with 69% of adults leading an active lifestyle, 6.5 percentage points above the national average.
Active Essex sits on the Uttlesford Health and Wellbeing Board and has played a key role in embedding physical activity as a priority across the district. Working alongside Uttlesford District Council and local partners, the focus remains on a community-led approach, supported by an open grants programme that encourages residents and organisations to propose ideas and initiatives to help increase opportunities for people to be active.
Uttlesford is united by ambition and driven by movement, and the following case studies show how the district is contributing to the Fit for the Future Strategy.
