Overview
Welcome to the ISPAH #8Investments Community Hub
The Community Hub is a community of practice – where everyone, everywhere, can share experiences of promoting physical activity.
The role of the Community Hub is to connect our global community. Sharing real life experiences of creating and designing, implementing, and evaluating, physical activity promotion connected with the 8 investments in the real-world.
The content of the Community Hub is and will continue to be shaped by you – our global community of academics, policymakers, practitioners, and everyone in between, who are united in enabling a more active world.
The Eight Investments That Work for Physical Activity document summarises the evidence for each of the 8 investments as well as the benefits of adopting a whole systems approach. The Eight Investments is a call to action for everyone, everywhere to embed physical activity in national and sub-national policies.
The process of implementing these evidence-based actions varies by country and context, and at times can be confusing and challenging.
Pitch your story!
Why not ‘Pitch Your Story’ to the 8 Investments Community Hub? You are encouraged to submit multiple pitches if you have multiple stories to share!
Application Form
Community Hub
Whole-School Programmes
Programmes that engage school communities to provide students with multiple physical activity opportunities throughout the day have benefits for academic achievement and classroom behaviour.
Why?
- Large amount of time spent at school
- Wide population reach
- Sustained reach over time
- Facilities and personnel
- Childhood development
- Academic achievement
What?
- Quality physical education
- Active travel
- Before and after school programmes
- Recess
- Active classrooms
Stories from the Community
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TransformUs – Revolutionising the classroom through movement
14 years of research to practice for a whole-school-physical activity initiative The current educational norm in Australia and globally is…
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Active School Flag: ‘Finding the Fit’
Learnings from an established, whole-of-school physical activity initiative operating at scale in Ireland. Whole-of-school physical activity initiatives have been…
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“Be a Champion!” in rural US schools
School health champions take a tailored approach to promoting physical activity through policy, environment, and strategy change. Schools play a…
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Video: A Government Mandated School Physical Activity Policy: Can We Support Teachers to Implement It?
Read the full paper:https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-103764 Suggested citation: International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Community Hub Video. Available from: wordpress-800566-2740760.cloudwaysapps.com/community-hub/.…
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Avoiding ‘voltage drop’ in schools research
Designing and evaluating a scalable whole-of-school physical activity intervention that is effective and inexpensive. Physical inactivity is a global problem…
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Creating A Solution that transforms physical activity culture in schools
A whole school framework to embed physical activity at the heart of the school so that it becomes everyone’s responsibility.…
Active Travel
Transport policies that support walking, cycling and public transport induce demand for active travel which has multiple co-benefits to the achievement of the sustainable development goals.
Why?
- Necessary activity
- Low cost
- Routine lifestyle activity= sustainable
- Fossil fuel consumption
- Traffic congestion
- Reduce demand for parking
- Air quality
- Mitigation of climate change
What?
- Destination accessibility
- Reduce car parking and increase cost
- Well maintained footpaths
- Enticing cycling infrastructure
- Reduce speed on residential roads
- Safe crossings
- Reduce distance to public transport
- Enhance desirability of active travel modes
Stories from the Community
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Increasing Older Adult Community Functional ‘Fit’ Through Active Urban Design
Understanding the relationship between local high streets and older adults’ physical activity There is an increasing older community population who…
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Get Ireland Walking! through a systems approach
Using systems science to understand and enhance walking promotion in Ireland Physical activity promotion in Ireland, and worldwide, is the…
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Communities4Walkability: A citizen science project in rural Australia
Community members as citizen scientists identify environmental characteristics that influence walkability and active living in rural areas. People who live…
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Every Step Counts: celebrating 20 years of success for 10,000 Steps Australia
Over 550,000 members and 285 billion steps later: Understanding the long-term implementation achievements of a community-wide eHealth intervention program. Like…
Active Urban Design
Policies that support equitable access to parks, local amenities and better walking, cycling and public transportation infrastructure make being active more appealing.
Why?
- Access to places and spaces conducive to more physical activity
- Associated with active travel choices
- Liveability and business activity co-benefits
- More attractive and ‘liveable’ neighbourhoods
What?
- Mixed land use – shops, schools, homes etc
- Green spaces
- Sports facilities
Stories from the Community
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Taking to the streets – Every day should be a play day
ISPAH member Dr. Deirdre Harrington and colleague from the University of Strathclyde, Dr. James Bonner, visited Amsterdam in June 2024…
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Increasing Older Adult Community Functional ‘Fit’ Through Active Urban Design
Understanding the relationship between local high streets and older adults’ physical activity There is an increasing older community population who…
-
Get Ireland Walking! through a systems approach
Using systems science to understand and enhance walking promotion in Ireland Physical activity promotion in Ireland, and worldwide, is the…
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Communities4Walkability: A citizen science project in rural Australia
Community members as citizen scientists identify environmental characteristics that influence walkability and active living in rural areas. People who live…
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Collaborative working to increase walking in local parks
Academics work with local stakeholders to enhance a community asset in a deprived area of a UK town Delapré Park…
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Every Step Counts: celebrating 20 years of success for 10,000 Steps Australia
Over 550,000 members and 285 billion steps later: Understanding the long-term implementation achievements of a community-wide eHealth intervention program. Like…
Healthcare
Community health professionals such as general practitioners should promote physical activity to their patients for the prevention and management of disease.
Why?
- Large population reach
- Trusted source of health advice
- Primary and secondary prevention
- Integrated into patient appointments
- Healthcare costs
What?
- Assessment
- Counselling
- Links with local opportunities
Stories from the Community
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Our #ActiveWards Movement
Employing practice development techniques to enhances opportunity for change of clinical practice to reduce deconditioning in the acute clinical setting …
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Walk with a Doc inspires communities through movement and conversation.
More than a Walk The United States and countries around the globe are experiencing an epidemic of health issues arising…
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Nordic Walking Campus: the paths of wellness
An idea to teach and practice the Nordic Walking In Italy, inactivity is a widespread issue. According to 2019 ISTAT…
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Time, Training, Trust – making movement prescription an easier choice
Why aren’t more doctors prescribing physical activity? The World Health Organization ranks physical inactivity as the 4th leading risk factor…
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Embedding physical activity into the curriculum of trainee healthcare professionals
National action in the UK to raise the visibility and quality of physical activity teaching for healthcare professionals The World…
Public Education
Public education campaigns that transmit clear messages about physical activity can reach large populations and increase awareness of the importance of physical activity.
Why?
- Effective way to communicate consistent and clear messages
- Wide population reach
- Wide population reach
- Motivate changes in attitudes and motivation/intention
- Raise awareness of opportunities to be active
- Contribute to building cultural norms
What?
- Gain-framed messages
- Tailored and targeted
- Multiple formats
- Combined with supportive environments and opportunities
Stories from the Community
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“Do two days of what?” Strength Component of our Guidelines is Overlooked
A UK researcher is on a mission to improve messaging. Physical activity guidelines are the fundamental way academics and decision…
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Every Step Counts: celebrating 20 years of success for 10,000 Steps Australia
Over 550,000 members and 285 billion steps later: Understanding the long-term implementation achievements of a community-wide eHealth intervention program. Like…
Sports for All
Equitable access to formal and informal sporting opportunities across the lifespan to increase participation in sport will contribute to many of the sustainable development goals.
Why?
- Social benefits
- Leadership, teamwork
- Volunteering
- Potential for the profile of sport to inspire participation
What?
- Accessible and appropriate places and spaces
- Formal and informal clubs and programmes
- Mass events that engage whole communities
- Create positive role models
- Foster positive experiences
Stories from the Community
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“Do two days of what?” Strength Component of our Guidelines is Overlooked
A UK researcher is on a mission to improve messaging. Physical activity guidelines are the fundamental way academics and decision…
-
Walk with a Doc inspires communities through movement and conversation.
More than a Walk The United States and countries around the globe are experiencing an epidemic of health issues arising…
-
Nordic Walking Campus: the paths of wellness
An idea to teach and practice the Nordic Walking In Italy, inactivity is a widespread issue. According to 2019 ISTAT…
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“We don’t have to do things the same way”
Tackling physical inactivity through sport; an evaluation of the Move It AUS program The SPort & Recreation INTervention & Epidemiology…
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Researchers work with City Hall to develop local solutions to promote sport and recreation for all
University faculty proposes local community sports facilities to combat physical inactivity in Arad, Romania Aurel Vlaicu University through the Physical…
Workplaces
Workplace-based physical activity programmes which include opportunities to be active embedded throughout the day will have physical, mental, and social benefits, while also reducing absenteeism and burnout.
Why?
- Most adults spend many hours in the workplace
- Corporate social responsibility
- Facilities and personnel
- Absenteeism
- Burnout
What?
- Supportive environments
- Educational events
- Active commuting (end of trip facilities, encouragement)
- Promoting an ‘active culture’ e.g. Walking meetings
Stories from the Community
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Highlighting the ‘sandwich generation’ on International Women’s Day
Relatability, diversity, reassurance and choice are key to empowering women aged 50+ through physical activity. Physical activity is crucial for…
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Every Step Counts: celebrating 20 years of success for 10,000 Steps Australia
Over 550,000 members and 285 billion steps later: Understanding the long-term implementation achievements of a community-wide eHealth intervention program. Like…
Community Wide
Offering more than one approach to physical activity promotion is recommended. A joined-up approach to physical activity will have many co-benefits to society beyond health.
Why?
- Offer a combined approach to Contribute to building cultural norms
- A coordinated community approach is likely to have a greater impact than the sum of its parts
What?
- Multi-component with a broad community reach
- Promotion of walking and cycling trails
- Physical activity programmes in diverse settings
- Community centres
- Aged care centres
- Faith-based settings
- Shopping malls
Stories from the Community
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Highlighting the ‘sandwich generation’ on International Women’s Day
Relatability, diversity, reassurance and choice are key to empowering women aged 50+ through physical activity. Physical activity is crucial for…
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Scaling-up health-promoting interventions for older adults in British Columbia, Canada
Is there a secret sauce? Despite the known benefits of an active lifestyle, many older adults in Canada and around…
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The Power of Relationships: Transforming lives through the “Strong Culture, Healthy Lifestyles” project
Strong relationships with self, each other and Country are essential for creating successful and sustainable programs with Indigenous communities “As…
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Ironbark: Aboriginal balance and strength exercise program for fall prevention
A culturally relevant exercise program for older Aboriginal people to prevent falls and socialize together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander…
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Increasing Older Adult Community Functional ‘Fit’ Through Active Urban Design
Understanding the relationship between local high streets and older adults’ physical activity There is an increasing older community population who…
-
Get Ireland Walking! through a systems approach
Using systems science to understand and enhance walking promotion in Ireland Physical activity promotion in Ireland, and worldwide, is the…
-
Communities4Walkability: A citizen science project in rural Australia
Community members as citizen scientists identify environmental characteristics that influence walkability and active living in rural areas. People who live…
-
Every Step Counts: celebrating 20 years of success for 10,000 Steps Australia
Over 550,000 members and 285 billion steps later: Understanding the long-term implementation achievements of a community-wide eHealth intervention program. Like…
Disclaimer
The content of the Community Hub has been produced by the authors rather than ISPAH. All features are for the purpose of sharing examples of practice. The content does not represent the views nor endorsement of ISPAH.
