TACKLING OUR CLIMATE CRISIS

We understand the value of the environment and we know that physical activity can play a part in the drive to reduce the rate of global warming and limit climate change. 

It is important to design and adapt the environment to encourage physical activity in our everyday lives, making active choice the easy choice and to ensure that active and sustainable environments and communities exist across our Region.  

We are working with partners to look at all the ways that physical activity can be used to support the climate change agenda and reduce harm to our environment. 

Following our successful application to become a Corporate Partner of the Design Council (the Government’s advisors on design) several networking events have been attended during the last 12 months with other Corporate Partners.  The networking events have given the opportunity to meet and collaborate with a varied cross section of different experts in the field of design.   

The Design Council’s focus for the Corporate Partnership seeks expertise which complements and extends their capability in several areas including sustainable design and planning, and active travel and modal shift amongst other requirements, which aligns with the strategic aims and objectives of our Infrastructure and Environment workstream. 

During 2021/22, the Department for Transport released a fund to create pilot projects across the country to combine social prescribing with active travel proposals.  Expressions of interest for the funding were required from consortiums and Rise were invited to be part of the steering group for the bid by Sunderland City Council.  The Expression of Interest was successful, and funding was awarded to carry out a feasibility study for the pilot proposal which was submitted at the end of April 2022.  The bid encouraged partnership working and it provides an opportunity for further collaboration moving forward, should the feasibility study result in an award of funding to implement the pilot proposal. 

Also, Gateshead Council have been successful in progressing to the feasibility stage of the social prescribing and active travel bid and we have been in discussions about supporting the pilot proposal if the project is awarded funding. 

If you would like to connect with us in relation to active design, active travel or any other issues related to Climate Change, please contact our Strategic Lead for Infrastructure and Environment, Suzanne McDermott, at Suzanne.Mcdermott@wearerise.co.uk  

Our Other Priorities