JU:MP (which stands for Join Us: Move Play) is one of 12 Local Delivery Pilots across the country, funded by Sport England to better understand what helps people be active in their communities. JU:MP aimed to test and learn more about what helps children aged 5 – 14 years and their families to be active, taking what’s called a “whole systems approach to physical activity”.
The whole systems approach means working with families, communities and organisations and making improvements to the environment. Equally important to systems working is embedding physical activity in relevant policies and plans, from health and education to transport and planning.
Born in Bradford (BiB), a research programme hosted by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust led the pilot from 2018 – 2025 on behalf of Active Bradford, a partnership of organisations committed to creating an active district.
Research has shown that low levels of physical activity during childhood and teenage years can have a negative impact on children and young people’s academic achievements, social abilities and life skills, as well as their health. Born in Bradford (BiB) data has shown that 77% of 5-11-year-olds don’t do the recommended 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each day and 38% leave primary school overweight or obese. Being active doesn’t only improve children’s physical health, but also their emotional wellbeing, meaning that active children are more confident and happier.
>JU:MP had a major focus on reducing inequalities as our data shows that girls are less active than boys and children of South Asian heritage have significantly lower levels of physical activity than white British children. Only 6% of South Asian girls were active enough to benefit their health.
The JU:MP programme took place in a defined area of North Bradford which has a multi-ethnic population with some of the highest levels of poverty in the UK. Over £11 million of National Lottery funding supported the delivery of the programme which ran from 2018 – 2025 and aimed to improve the lives of 30,000 children as well as build evidence on children’s physical activity with a world-leading research programme.
JU:MP developed 16 workstreams, built on robust evidence alongside in-depth insight with children and families. We took a neighbourhood approach in eight hyper-local areas, bringing partners from schools, community and faith organisations and the local authority together to co-design and deliver local action plans. Developing active environments such as parks and greenspace was a key focus for these plans.
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