Get to know Matt
As the Health Inequalities Officer for Systems, my focus is to highlight movement and exercise within the health sphere. This takes various forms, but primarily involves advocating for people who are disadvantaged by systems and therefore unable to access services that are meant to be available to them. This includes challenging and encouraging systems to reflect on the barriers they impose, and working together to become more inclusive and more reflective of the communities we serve.
What do Together Active’s values mean to you and your role?
The values of the organisation are the cornerstone of my work. To effectively challenge health inequalities, we need to be collaborative, compassionate, creative, and inclusive. I regularly reflect on our values and how I incorporate them into my work, sometimes even a quick check-in can shape and strengthen the decisions I make.
What does Together Active’s mission mean to you?
I believe it is incredibly important to design out inactivity for the health and wellbeing of our population. Increasing movement improves both physical and mental health, something that has been widely evidenced. On a personal level, since joining Together Active, I’ve become more focused on my own physical activity and have increased how much I move as a result.
What does inclusion and access in physical activity mean to you?
Inclusion is paramount to improving people’s health and wellbeing. It isn’t just about access, but also about how physical activity is offered and framed. Historically, sport and exercise have been elitist and restrictive in who takes part. As we move forward, the offer of physical activity must be rooted in equity, acknowledging that services need to be flexible, welcoming, and responsive to different needs.