Active Essex have launched a new and ambitious ten-year Physical Activity and Sport strategy for Essex, Southend and Thurrock, called ‘Fit for the Future’.

In-line with the exciting news of this strategy, described as ‘the biggest behaviour change campaign Essex has ever seen’, is a new ‘Find Your Active’ physical activity campaign to amplify the messaging and outcomes of Fit for the Future.

Active Essex intend to continue to build upon the strengths in local communities, to help provide the tools to enable young people to have the best and most healthy start to life and to work collectively to develop connected and accessible places and spaces.

They will also enable and empower people to do things for themselves for good physical and mental wellbeing and continue to work to increase sport and physical activity opportunities. To run alongside the strategy, a new campaign called ‘Find Your Active’ will celebrate how physical activity is inclusive and for everyone.

Find Your Active celebrates the fact that everyone can enjoy the huge benefits of moving more - it's just about finding what is right for each individual. When it comes to getting active, finding the right activity greatly increases the chances of creating a new, sustainable, healthy habit.

This could be getting out in the garden, a short walk, a social bike ride, some light stretching, a friendly game of football or a visit to the local leisure centre - the benefits of increasing daily movement will soon show, and have a really positive impact on health and wellbeing.

The Active Essex website explains: “As we begin to emerge from the pandemic and look towards the road to recovery, the importance and profile of physical activity has been raised to heights we have never seen before, creating a pivotal moment, that we need to utilise. Together, we need to build back stronger and build back better.”

“As of June 2021, there were over 1.6 million adults living in Essex, Southend and Thurrock and 901,000 are active and participate in over 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Together, we want to increase this number, unite in one direction and, over the next ten years, create ‘an active Essex to improve everyone’s health and wellbeing’.”

To download the strategy, or to find out more about ‘Find Your Active’, visit the Active Essex website. Information on participating in grassroots Essex football can also be found in the menus above, by following @EssexCountyFA on Twitter and by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.