The event was proudly sponsored by John Griffiths MS, whose support has helped in bringing the GOGA message to the forefront. “It is important to avoid loneliness and social isolation by becoming part of organised activities, including sport and physical activity and Disability Sport Wales with the Get Out Get Active Project is doing just that. Groups are more physically active, more socially active and having all the benefits that brings. And it very much links up with some of the Welsh Governments prime strategies such as the Anti-Racist Wales action plan and of course the LGBTQ+ action plan. So it is that intersectionality, it is linking up groups, linking up sections of society for mutual benefit”
A Celebration of Inclusion and Activity
From its inception in 2016, GOGA has been a beacon of inclusivity, engaging both disabled and non-disabled individuals in fun and inclusive activities. The programme's primary aims have been to reach the UK's least active populations, support them in being active together, foster engagement through the "Ten Talk to Me" principles, and ensure sustainability in active lifestyles and inclusive practices.
Event Highlights
The evening commenced with a warm welcome from Nia Jones, Projects Manager for Disability Sport Wales. "It is a great pleasure to be with you all here in the Senedd as we get the opportunity to share the achievements and learning of the Get Out Get Active programme in Wales," she began, setting the tone for a night of reflection and celebration.
Throughout the event, attendees were treated to a showcase of the programme's impact across various Welsh communities:
A key highlight was the engaging Q&A session where Emma Jones from Pride Cymru, Katie Bowie-Hallam from Sport Pembrokeshire, and Gareth Winmill from StreetGames shared their insights, successes, and impact stories. They discussed the importance of community engagement, the benefits of co-production, and the profound impact of inclusive activities on participants' lives. Their firsthand accounts brought to life the programme's achievements and the personal transformations it facilitated.
The evening featured insightful discussions, heartfelt stories of transformation, and a comprehensive overview of GOGA's achievements presented by Simon Tanner from Wavehill, experts in social and economic research.
A Call to Action
The event concluded with a powerful call to action delivered by Gareth Thomas, Chair of Disability Sport Wales. He emphasized the importance of partnership, community engagement, and sustainable funding to ensure the ongoing success of GOGA. "Explore in partnership with gatekeepers to communities, talk, listen and listen some more to the people who are in it, and are the least active of the inactive," he urged.
Thomas highlighted the programme's outstanding return on investment, delivering £4.60 in social value for every £1 invested, demonstrating the effectiveness and importance of the GOGA approach.
Looking Forward
As we celebrate the success of GOGA, it is imperative to continue building on this momentum. The GOGA manifesto, encapsulating seven years of learning and impact, serves as a guide for future actions. Stakeholders and community members are encouraged to support and expand programmes based on GOGA principles, integrate learnings into existing initiatives, and foster collaborations that will sustain the programme's positive impact.
Fiona Reid CEO of Disability Sport Wales said “GOGA has fundamentally been about bringing active recreation and an enjoyment of being, and moving together into the lives of those people who haven’t had those opportunities before, or who have had them in the past but lost touch or trust with them.”
“For 7 years, we and our Welsh GOGA partners have learnt some incredible but simple lessons about how to co-develop opportunities in formats which work for the communities who drive and then engage with them. From using Queensway Stadium in Wrexham for women’s Couch to 5K sessions because it is safe, well-lit, and no-one is ever left behind; and sand art on the beach in Pembrokeshire, bringing together the outdoor environment with electively home educated young people and their networks to be physically active without that being the focus; to Pride Cymru’s Kitchen Discos during the periods of lockdown (and beyond) which enabled people to be active together in the toughest of times.”
“Spirit 2012, London Marathon Foundation and Sport England have supported the programme across the UK for its duration; and the trust, encouragement and value they have placed on ‘discussion with’, ‘listening to’, and ‘trying things out with’ the communities of people who are less represented within the physical activity pathway has been phenomenal.”
Reid continued “we can’t ignore the data, the case for change in how we embed things to ensure inclusion actually happens, and the Call to Action DSW have made about embedding or investing in more approaches like this for Wales so that together, we can address the equality gap for intersectional communities, their health, their choice, and their connectivity to others from within and outside their communities. The future of physical activity programming in Wales has to consider the GOGA approach, or we won’t be doing justice to all the incredible work and impact this programme has given to so many.”
For more information on the impact of the GOGA programme and to see the UK wide evaluation done by Wavehill please visit the GOGA website http://www.getoutgetactive.co.uk/resources/get-out-get-active-impact-report
Contact Information
For more information about GOGA and how you can get involved, please visit Disability Sport Wales' website or contact:
Nia Jones Projects Manager
Email: nia.jones@disabilitysportwales.com
Phone: +44 (0)29 2033 4924
