Active Lincolnshire joined Kathy McLean, Chair of NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), on a visit to Boston and Mablethorpe to explore how organisations are working together to improve health and wellbeing through physical activity and community partnerships.

The visit brought together perspectives from education, healthcare, leisure and community organisations, showcasing the role local facilities and services can play in helping people become more active, reducing isolation and supporting healthier lives.

It also highlighted some of the challenges people face when accessing opportunities to be active, reinforcing the importance of understanding local needs and working collaboratively to address inequalities.

Exploring opportunities in Boston

The visit began at the Mayflower Campus, where discussions explored opportunities to strengthen connections between education, healthcare, leisure and community services.

At Geoff Moulder Leisure Centre, the group heard about initiatives helping to make physical activity more accessible, including school swimming programmes reaching around 800 children each week and adaptations to improve accessibility.

Conversations also explored the impact of rurality including the transport barriers and cultural factors on participation, highlighting the need for solutions that reflect the experiences of local communities.

At Boston Grammar School, Year 10 sports studies students shared their experiences of sport and the challenges they face in accessing local clubs and activities. The group also heard from Boston United Community Foundation about the role sport can play in bringing people together and engaging residents from a range of backgrounds.

The visit continued at Boston College, where discussions focused on opportunities to make greater use of college facilities for community benefit, including strengthening links with local services and supporting health, wellbeing and digital inclusion.

Together, these conversations demonstrated the value of connecting existing community assets and expertise to create more opportunities for people to be active.

Tackling isolation and supporting active communities in Mablethorpe

In Mablethorpe, the focus turned to how community spaces and local partnerships can support wellbeing by reducing isolation and helping people remain active and independent.

At the Campus for Future Living, the group met colleagues from the local Primary Care Network and heard about programmes designed to improve wellbeing and strengthen community connections.

They also met Ian and Steve, members of the Pinbusters bowling group. This group is organised through the Lincoln and Lindsey Blind Society. Their experiences highlighted how physical activity can offer more than health benefits alone, helping people build connect with others and feel part of their community.

The visit included the Station Leisure and Learning Centre, where a swimming session for people with visual impairments was taking place. The centre showcased activities and programmes designed to support people to stay active, connected and independent.

These examples demonstrated how accessible activities and welcoming community spaces can help people overcome barriers to participation.

Turning local insight into meaningful change

For Active Lincolnshire, the visit reinforced the importance of working across sectors to understand what influences physical activity and to use that insight to inform action.

While community facilities and activities play an important role, improving participation also requires an understanding of the wider circumstances that shape people's opportunities to be active.

Research that includes local data and the experiences of residents and community organisations can help identify where barriers exist, what is already working well and where further collaboration could make a difference.

By bringing partners together, sharing knowledge and learning from local experiences, we can help shape approaches that respond to the needs of individual communities rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all solution.

Emma, Chief Executive of Active Lincolnshire, said:

“This visit highlighted the fantastic work happening across Boston and Mablethorpe. By combining research and local insight with strong partnerships, we can tackle barriers to physical activity and create lasting change for our communities.”

Working together for a more active Lincolnshire

Active Lincolnshire works with partners across the county to help create the conditions for people to be active, supporting collaborative approaches that address inequalities and respond to local needs.

We know that meaningful change cannot be achieved by one organisation alone. It requires shared learning, strong relationships and a commitment to using evidence to inform decisions.

Do you work with a community, organisation or service that wants to help more people become active?

We want to hear from partners who are interested in exploring local challenges, sharing research and insight, and working together to develop evidence-informed approaches that make a difference.

By connecting research with the knowledge and experience of those working in our communities, we can turn insight into action and help build a more active Lincolnshire.

Find out more about working with Active Lincolnshire on research and insight.