A University of Northampton (UON) academic whose research focuses on community engagement and physical activity welcomes £2.3million of national funds to support this.
Associate Professor Dr Declan Ryan is part of a new partnership – announced today – to tackle inequalities in physical activity in four communities across Northamptonshire.
Dr Ryan will support the partnership by evaluating its impact and suggesting future recommendations, working with local communities to better understand the barriers people face to being active.
The areas where the funding will be spent are Kings Heath and Spencer (Northampton), Kingswood (Corby), Lodge Park (also in Corby) and Queensway (Wellingborough).
Led by Northamptonshire Sport, the project brings together the University of Northampton, both unitary authorities, the Northamptonshire Integrated Care System, and partners from the voluntary and community sector.
The funds come from a £250 million pot of Sport England funding for more than 90 ‘Active Places’ across the country, including Northamptonshire. The funds will be used to:
- Support community-led projects and local organisations.
- Enhance school-based opportunities for children and young people, underpinned by physical literacy to support lifelong engagement in physical activity.
- Help families be active together using local green spaces.
- Develop youth leadership, volunteering and employability opportunities.
- Enable older adults to lead more active, connected lives through increased physical activity, stronger social networks, and reduced loneliness.
- Support more women and girls to be active through female leadership and workforce opportunities.
- Expand inclusive opportunities for disabled people to be active and socialise.
Capture learning and insight to shape future investment and wider system change.
Associate Professor, Dr Declan Ryan. Dr Ryan said: “The awarding of these funds, after a successful bid in partnership with the University, is excellent news. I am delighted to see such commitment to inclusive, evidence-led approaches to physical activity.
“To help steer this project, I will be working one day each week with the councils during this time. I look forward to sharing the evaluation of how this partnership translates funding into meaningful, lasting change for people’s health and wellbeing.”
Dr Ryan has worked at the University since 2017 where he specialises in Exercise Physiology. He has worked with various partners in Northamptonshire to deliver collaborative, community-focused projects that support better health and wellbeing, and:
- Played a key role in the Memorandum of Understanding between the University and Northamptonshire Sport, strengthening community health initiatives, student placements and employability across sport degrees.
- Led research that created a signposted walking route at Delapre Park to boost physical activity and wellbeing. This featured as a best practice case study from the National Academy for Social Prescribing.
- Provided evidence for and evaluated the upgrade of paths with Delapre Park.
- In 2024, he was conferred the title of Associate Professor and received a Rose of Northamptonshire in 2025 for outstanding community impact.
Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.