As Sport England’s Moving Together programme enters its second phase, there is growing momentum behind a shared ambition: to make it easier for people living with long-term health conditions to be physically active in ways that work for them. The programme, co-led by the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK (FSEM) and the Active Partnerships National Organisation (APNO), and supported by Sport England through National Lottery funding, is focused on creating more seamless connections between health, care and physical activity services.

At Active Lincolnshire, we welcome this next stage of the programme because it aligns closely with the work we’re leading locally through a place-based approach. We know that physical activity has the power to improve physical health, mental wellbeing, independence and quality of life. Yet for many people living with long-term conditions, the journey into activity can still feel fragmented, confusing or inaccessible.

Creating frictionless pathways

Dr Natasha Jones, President of FSEM, highlights a challenge that many of us recognise across the health and physical activity landscape. For too long, people who stand to benefit most from being active have experienced barriers that reduce confidence and limit opportunities to move. She argues that these barriers are often systemic rather than evidence-based, and that overcoming them requires genuine collaboration across sectors.

The Moving Together programme seeks to address this by creating "frictionless physical activity pathways" that connect healthcare professionals, community organisations and activity providers. The ambition is simple but transformative: to give people living with long-term conditions the confidence, support and opportunities they need to become active and stay active.

This shift isn’t about creating another programme or referral route. Instead, it’s about changing the way systems work together so that physical activity becomes a natural and accessible part of health and care support.

A place-based approach in Lincolnshire

Across Lincolnshire, we’re already working with system partners to bring this vision to life. Through our place-based work, we are helping to strengthen relationships between local authorities, the NHS, voluntary and community organisations, leisure providers and wider partners who all have a role to play in supporting healthier communities.

We recognise that every community is different. What works in an urban neighbourhood may not work in a rural village. That’s why our focus is on listening to local people, understanding community strengths and challenges, and working collaboratively to develop solutions that meet local needs.

By bringing partners together around a shared goal, we’re helping to create environments where physical activity is accessible, inclusive and connected to wider health outcomes. Whether that’s through supporting social prescribing, improving community-based opportunities, or strengthening connections between healthcare professionals and activity providers, our aim is to make movement a realistic option for everyone.

Reducing health inequalities

One of the most important aspects of the Moving Together programme is its focus on tackling health inequalities. People living with long-term conditions are often among those least likely to be active, despite having the most to gain from regular movement. The programme is specifically designed to improve outcomes in areas where health inequalities are most pronounced and where traditional systems have not always worked effectively.

In Lincolnshire, this mirrors our commitment to ensuring that opportunities to be active are available to everyone, regardless of background, age, location or health condition. Through collaboration with system partners, we’re working to remove barriers and ensure that support is proportionate, person-centred and responsive.

A shared responsibility

The success of Moving Together depends on collective action. Healthcare professionals, activity providers, local authorities, charities and community groups all have a role in creating a system that empowers people rather than creating additional hurdles.

The programme is also helping to challenge traditional approaches to risk and medical clearance, encouraging a more person-centred model that focuses on informed guidance and shared decision-making. This has the potential to build confidence among professionals and participants alike, making physical activity a more accessible part of everyday health management.

Looking ahead

As Moving Together enters its next phase, there’s a significant opportunity to reshape how health and physical activity systems interact. The programme reminds us that supporting people with long-term conditions isn’t solely the responsibility of healthcare services. It requires a joined-up approach that spans organisations, sectors and communities.

Emma Tatlow, CEO of Active Lincolnshire, said:

The vision behind Moving Together reflects exactly what we are striving to achieve across Lincolnshire. By working collaboratively with our system partners and communities, we’re creating more connected pathways that help people living with long-term conditions feel confident, supported and empowered to be active. Together, we can build healthier places where movement becomes part of everyday life.

At Active Lincolnshire, we’re proud to play our part in this journey. By strengthening place-based partnerships and supporting whole-system approaches, we can help ensure that more people across our county have the opportunity to experience the life-changing benefits of being active.