Cost of Living Crisis Statement

The cost-of-living crisis is not an abstract term for the people of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The rapid increases in energy prices, inflation and borrowing are having a material impact on our communities right now.

As the strategic lead for physical activity in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, we are particularly concerned for the impact on the physical and mental health of our local population. For those living with long-term health conditions, the possibility of deconditioning, reduced mobility and poorer health outcomes is real. Similarly, at a time of great anxiety for many, we fear for the mental health of those who are struggling to get by, particularly as their options for socialising reduce as services are stretched yet further.

This in turn will only increase the pressure on already strained health and social care services.

This is a genuine threat to the future of our NHS.

The health and wellbeing of every person living in our region is endangered.

That is why an essential component of the effort to address the cost-of-living crisis must be physical activity.

Supporting people to be active will mitigate the worst health impacts of this crisis. Moving more helps keep people well physically and mentally and it is imperative that it is integrated into the support that we are providing to the people in our communities who are most affected by the crisis.

Many people are already excluded from services, and it is has never been more important that we work together to bring people in and keep them in.

We know we cannot solve the cost-of-living crisis alone. By working in partnership with other organisations we can ensure that there is a whole-person approach to overcoming the challenges we face.

The evidence is extensive – we know structured and informal activities provide opportunities to maintain mobility, strength, and fitness levels to help people better weather the stresses of the winter. Being active together builds support networks which help protect the mental health of those at risk.

Physical activity is not a luxury.

It is an essential tool that must be integrated into our support offer.

Together Active is committed to supporting our communities and our partners particularly in the worst affected areas. In our strategy we said we would step up and we are stepping up now during the cost-of-living crisis to:

• Provide local communities with accessible and inclusive resources that help them stay well
• Make funding available to our partners to strengthen their support offer to the most vulnerable and marginalised groups
• Work in partnership with warm banks/spaces and key frontline agencies to be flexible and responsive to changing needs

And we are stepping up to ask local and national government to ensure there is robust, collaborative, and integrated response. That means healthcare, local authorities, and community sport and physical activity organisations must be enabled and resourced to develop a multifaceted, coordinated response to the crisis.

No one should be left behind.