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ITEM 11 EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY 4 September 2018 MOOR TO ENJOY (A HEALTH AND WELLBEING PARTNERSHIP) PROJECT COMPLETION AND FINAL REPORT Report of the Head of Information and Communication Purpose of the report: To report on the completion of the Moor to Enjoy Project (a health and wellbeing partnership). RECOMMENDATION(S): The Authority is recommended to: (1) RECEIVE the Moor to Enjoy Final Report (2) NOTE the Project successes and learning (3) THANK Devon and Somerset Health and Wellbeing Boards for commissioning the Project. Authority Priority: Support delivery of the Exmoor National Park Partnership Plan ambition for People: Exmoor for All: where everyone feels welcome. Legal and Equality Implications: Section 65(4) Environment Act 1995 – provides powers to the National Park Authority to “do anything which in the opinion of the Authority, is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to- (a) the accomplishment of the purposes mentioned in s. 65 (1) [National Park purposes] (b) the carrying out of any functions conferred on it by virtue of any other enactment.” The equality impact of the recommendation(s) of this report has been assessed as follows: There are no negative equality implications arising from the recommendations of this report. Consideration has been given to the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 and an assessment of the implications of the recommendation(s) of this report is as follows: There are no negative implications arising from the recommendations of this report. Financial and Risk Implications: There are no financial implications arising from the recommendations of this report. 1 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Members will be aware that the Moor to Enjoy Project completed at the end August 2018. 1.2 Attached at Appendix 1 is the Final Report for the Project. 1.3 We would like to acknowledge the foresight and innovation that the Health and Wellbeing Boards of Devon and Somerset had in commissioning this project, the first of its type to be funded in England; and to thank the Public Health Teams at Devon and Somerset County Councils for their support and enthusiasm throughout the Project. 1.4 Members may also recall that, in parallel, Dartmoor National Park Authority ran a sister project ‘Naturally Healthy’ enabling a comparison between different delivery models for nature-based interventions for health and wellbeing. This was an excellent example of partnership working and enabled us jointly to commission Plymouth University to undertake a robust and independent evaluation of the different approaches. 1.5 The Moor to Enjoy Project was cited in Defra’s 8-Point Plan for England’s National Parks. 2. HEADLINE FINDINGS 2.1 Over the 4-year period of the Project, a number of outcomes have been achieved and findings observed: Identifying and working with established groups and building good relationships with group leaders, leads to sustainable relationships with groups. Established groups with identified leaders are more likely to undertake unsupported repeat visits. Working with individuals with a common interest or common challenges without an identified group leader is less successful and requires a lot of resource and input. Ongoing tracking of participants and measuring long-lasting impacts on health and wellbeing due to nature-based interventions is a particular challenge. Meet groups where they are and really understand their needs, aspirations and limitations (perceived or actual) – do not make assumptions. Supported group leader taster days demonstrate what can be achieved and build confidence and trust to enable group leaders to organise their own visits. Transport, and not having the confidence to plan a visit independently, remain the main barriers to accessing the National Park. ENPA has a growing and deepening relationship with Public Health England (SW) developing and delivering the aspirations of the national accord between National Parks England and Public Health England in to practical actions. Green prescription/social prescribing schemes work best with a dedicated individual/community connector. The Exmoor health and wellbeing ‘experience’ now embedded as part of the core service offer. Return on investment: impact on productivity and contributions to the Exchequer is potentially a better measure than just savings to the NHS. 2 3. HEADLINE FIGURES 3.1 During the course of the Project, 75 networking events were attended, 117 groups worked with, 40 group visits organised and 1025 participants directly engaged. 96% enjoyed the experience 38% said they were more physically active 77% were more sociable 74% were more relaxed 87% had their spirits lifted 4. UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES AND BENEFITS 4.1 The Project had defined targets and desired outcomes that were met within the scope of the original concept and project design. 4.2 Additionally, as the Project progressed, a number of unexpected outcomes became apparent and many will remain as a lasting legacy through new networks, relationships and partnership working. Examples include: Academic research highlighted participants repeatedly described four key factors that contributed to their enhanced wellbeing by doing activities in the National Park: enjoyment, a sense of belonging (community), learning (novelty) and relaxation. Moor to Enjoy Project cited as a case study in Defra’s 8-point Plan for England’s National Parks promoting the health and wellbeing benefits of National Parks for the nation. Government Minister visits (Lord De Mauley and Lord Gardiner) Health and wellbeing included as a core aspect of the relevance of Exmoor National Park in the National Park Partnership Plan 2017-2022 – the five-year plan for the place. Impacts and opportunities for health and wellbeing initiatives incorporated in to the National Park’s project planning framework alongside diversity, sustainability and financial assessments – includes Five Ways to Wellbeing and the Government’s Chief Medical Officers’ recommendations for physical activity. The Five Ways to Wellbeing approach incorporated in to the Authority’s Business Plan 2017-2020. Regular awareness raising campaigns for the staff team including One You, Active10, Making Every Contact Count and a range of initiatives from charities and organisations promoting enhanced health and wellbeing. New relationships formed with Local Nature Partnerships with new partnerships operating under the ‘Naturally Healthy Month’ banner including #LetNatureNurture #NaturallyHealthy #StepOutside New relationships and partnership working established with Public Health England nationally and regionally – engaging with local and regional activity networks. This has been particularly useful in understanding the relevance of national strategies (for example Everybody Active Every Day (EAED)) and how National Parks can play their part. 3 Closer working between southern National Park Authorities (Exmoor, Dartmoor, New Forest and South Downs) alongside regional Public Health England teams (SW and SE). National Parks England and Public Health England national accord signed and implemented locally and in regional partnerships. New relationships and partnership working has been established with County Sports partnerships – SASP (Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership) and Active Devon. Better understanding of potential Sport England strategies (Towards an Active Nation), funding streams and opportunities. Improved insight and intelligence through new partnerships established. New relationships established with Local Authority Public Health Teams Making Every Contact Count online training resource shared. Corporate understanding of evidenced health and wellbeing benefits (physical, mental, emotional and psychological) better understood. New relationships with academic institutions (eg Plymouth and Exeter Universities) both from a health and wellbeing perspective and from economic impacts. New relationships with professional health and wellbeing networks – GP Practice networks; local authority locality networks. Engagement with regional forums for social prescribing (led by Wildlife Trusts linking with health and wellbeing boards). 5. LEGACY 5.1 Although now reduced in capacity to service and support groups through the Moor to Enjoy Project, the activities and services offered under the health and wellbeing ‘banner’ are now part of the core offer of the Support to National Park Users outreach provision. 5.2 A range of resources are available online and networks have been established and sustained. Tim Braund Head of Information and Communication 22 August 2018 Background papers on which this report, or an important part of it are based, constitute the list of background papers required by Section 100 D (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 to be open to members of the public comprise: Reports must include a list of background papers (ie those documents relating to the subject matter of the report which disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based and have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report). A copy of each of the documents included in the list should be open to inspection by members of the public. [Refer to Section 100D(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.] Moor to Enjoy: End of Project Report Exmoor National Park Authority August 2018 Moor Health and Wellbeing Plymouth University January 2018 4 1 Report Authors Keely Rolfe Project Coordinator (November 2014 – February 2017) Lucy McQuillan Project Coordinator