An industry leading project bridging the gap between the health care and leisure sector. The MSK Hubs launched in 100 leisure venues working with 20 operators nation wide over the past two year.
Over 20 million people in the UK have a problem relating to an MSK condition, such as arthritis, chronic pain or a knee replacement. Such conditions are one of the biggest factors in work absence and account for millions of lost days of productivity. For individuals, MSK conditions can be painful, challenging and limiting.
Changing this narrative was the impetus behind a two-year research project to design a system-based approach to better integrate leisure facilities with the nation’s healthcare infrastructure, turning them into a locally accessible network of community ‘MSK hubs’. This session will, for the first time, share the results of the project and the impact it’s had on leisure centres, healthcare services, and, most importantly, the people with MSK conditions.
The consortium responsible for the inception, delivery and evaluation of the initiative will share:
Attendees will gain insight into the workings of a unique collaboration, access to first-hand evaluation, and ideas on how to initiate and embed fitness and health partnerships into your business model.
Good Boost
Parkwood Leisure
Andy is widely recognised as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking leaders in the sector. In his role as Strategic Director, Andy is responsible for shaping the strategic direction of the company, including seeking new business opportunities, driving innovation, improving third party partnerships and overseeing Parkwood's marketing and business development departments.
He joined Parkwood Leisure in September 2022 from British Cycling where he spent 3 1⁄2 years overseeing the development of their new operating model and business plan. He also co-designed and implemented their Places to Ride investment programme.
Andy has worked in the industry for more than 20 years and has worked with national and international clients including Sport England, UK Sport, SportScotland, Sport Wales, Singapore Government, World Bank and a number of high profile NGBs and local authorities.
ukactive
With over 15 years’ experience working in the Leisure industry with a varied client base, Alison is passionate about providing individuals at all ages, abilities and backgrounds an opportunity and safe space to exercise and work towards their personal goals.
For a large part of her career, Alison’s focus has been in exercise rehabilitation, specifically for patients with a cardiac, cancer or MSK diagnosis. Alison has supported the set-up, delivery and roll out of many referral provisions whilst working closely with local NHS services, to ensure a smooth transition for the patient, and provide a safe and effective delivery model to encourage long term behavioural change.
Alison has also had experience in exercise prescription and activity roll out for children in her local community during school holiday periods and as Partnerships Manager at ukactive supported the delivery of the Nike Open Doors project in its final delivery year in 2023. ukactive has created a Blueprint for children’s activity, to provide guidance to their members and CYP providers to continue to deliver the Open Doors model. This will enable many more schools to open their doors during the holiday periods and encourage more children to be more active, more often. As a result of this project, ukactive was proud to be recognised within the Governments Sport Strategy.
Alison is also a member of ukactive’s internal CYP steering group, supporting the delivery of their strategy to support activity provision for children and young people.
Orthapedic Research UK
Arthritis Action
Good Boost
ukactive