Tuesday 20 March

B-active

'We've moved as a result of the research'; what music to our ears. Then another speaker explained how 'the power of research' had issued a challenge to 'address the problems'.  The B-active conference in Derby was just a small part of the research partnership we have been building with the City Council to contribute to the 'Get Derby Active' campaign.  Initially driven by the need to monitor progress towards achieving a target identified in the Local Public Service Agreement, the Partnership is already evolving.  Initially over 5000 young people completed 7-day physical activity diaries.  Now we have trained council staff to run focus groups skilfully with local children and young people.  We plan to assess methodological developments by combining activity diaries with high-tech motion sensors; and we are exploring opportunities for dissertation work for Masters students and for involving colleagues.

Through the conference the Partnership also delivered us an audience of some 500 people that we couldn't have hoped to recruit ourselves.  These included teachers, youth organisations, community groups, Derby County, planners, transport officials and councillors.  It is so refreshing to work with a council that not only values research, but also wants to actively engage in, and develop, it. 

Professor Jonathan Long
Jim McKenna, Running Stream Professor
Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education