The Reconnect Model in Uttlesford
Prevention through movement
Reconnect is an early help, prevention-focused programme delivered by Sport for Confidence CIC in partnership with Lord Butler Leisure Centre, Active Essex and Uttlesford District Council.
Despite being a well-established initiative adopted by many areas across Greater Essex, this is the first time West Essex has formally adopted the Reconnect model, led by Uttlesford’s proactive implementation. Reconnect builds on the successful Prevention and Enablement Model utilised by the Essex Local Delivery Pilot, that used an evidence-based, occupational therapy led approach to harness physical activity for adults with disabilities, long term health conditions and their carers.
With crucial funding from Essex County Council’s Public Health team, the programme has been able to expand its reach locally, enabling West Essex residents to benefit from the confidence, social connection and social value generated.
Over the past year, this partnership has grown, delivering adaptive twice weekly sessions at Lord Butler, tailored to individual needs, and embedding therapeutic physical activity into local health and social care pathways.
THE ROLE OF ACTIVE ESSEX
Utilising our knowledge and a place-based approach our role began with identifying the right opportunity and location, that offered a space suitable and accessible for the community. Guided by our core principle of going where the energy is we secured Uttlesford as the ideal starting point and connected with key local stakeholders to build momentum. Active Essex have been able to leverage its position across strategic networks, including Health and Wellbeing Boards, to raise awareness of the provision to wider partners. Our knowledge extends beyond place-based insight and through the Find Your Active Place Navigator, we have been able to support further opportunities for residents to be active, in turn creating local pathways. A combination of strategic influence, local knowledge and partnership building has been critical to the development and sustainability of Reconnect in West Essex.
The establishment of the Sport for Confidence Reconnect sessions in Uttlesford’s Lord Butler leisure centre has also led to the newly installed PoolPod.
Funded by Uttlesford District Council after recognising the practical access barriers for residents with a range of physical, learning and mental health difficulties, this important addition to the swimming pool directly supports the ambition to tackle inactivity among those least active.
This development will transform accessibility for participants with a range of health challenges, enabling fully inclusive swimming opportunities, and strengthening the long-term impact of this initiative.
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.
Needs-based approach
Learnings show it is important to go where the energy is, and where local insight expresses.
Aligning local priorities
Uttlesford was a good entry point for West Essex to adopt Reconnect due to aligned priorities.
Connecting stakeholders
From leisure and council to NHS and community organisations, Active Essex acted as a broker.
Physical access to facilities
Partners advocating for inclusive opportunities helps to lobby the change to facility access.
We hope that through our evaluation and data collection, we will be able to share accessibility improvements and impact to health outcomes, to help inform discussions about further adoptions of the programme across West Essex.Danielle Warnes, Active Essex Relationship Manager, West Essex
Active Essex will continue to work closely with Sport for Confidence, maintaining strong links with Harlow and Epping, brokering the necessary relationships and partners needing to be involved.
The West Essex hub team will remain rooted in going where the energy is and responding to the identified need. This means engaging with neighbouring districts to understand referral patterns into the current Uttlesford offer, identifying gaps, and sharing impact data such as participant growth.
