Hampshire Active Health Programme – what happened next!

Organisations have found creative ways to continue and even expand their projects following the Hampshire Active Health Programme, with collaboration and partnerships remaining a key component.

Between April 2024 and February 2025, the Hampshire Active Health Programme supported over 30 different organisations with funding, collaboration, and learning opportunities. A big focus of the programme was creating sustainable change, and testing new approaches to help us all learn what works, and what doesn’t, when supporting people to be physically active.

We caught up with some of the HAHP projects to find out what they’re up to, and how the programme and learning has influenced their work.

Move Momentum, an inclusive dance company based in Winchester, produced Everyone Can Dance Online to support adults with long-term conditions or disabilities in Hampshire.

Maria from Move Momentum told us that sustainable funding remains a challenge, as it is for many organisations, but that the partnerships they built through HAHP have continued to play an important role in their work.

“We’ve been busy updating our “Everyone Can Dance” program and have since moved it to a new CRM, which has been a great improvement for both us and our students. We’re hoping to re-market the program to attract more participants, particularly by connecting with care homes to invite them to set up a regular, affordable dance class, like Enham Trust continues to do every Monday.

“We’ve continued our conversation with OpenSight and will be led a one-off dance workshop for primary and secondary school children at Pavillion in The Park this October. We hope to utilise our learnings from HAHP (MECC training) to continue to build upon this relationship and hopefully set up a regular dance class in the future.”

The Source Young People’s Charity, based in Rushmoor, piloted a bespoke physical activity wellbeing programme for neurodivergent young people who find it difficult to access mainstream activities.

Activate Project & Fundraising Coordinator, Asharee, told us that, “our Bike Maintenance and Cycling sessions have continued throughout 2025, with many participants continuing to come from local Home-Education groups. We were also beginning to see existing participants invite friends to join in.  New sessions were started including a young adults volunteering group. They have delivered over 200 volunteer hours between them across 3 months, and are now selling the Bikes they refurbish at a local charity shop.” She reflected that “consistency helps reduce anxiety and creates a safer and more comfortable environment for participants to build confidence and skills.”

Like Move Momentum, partnerships are important to The Source.

“Thanks to our ongoing partnership with the local, professional golf club, we have successfully continued these sessions during the spring and summer. 11 young people aged 11–16 years took part. These sessions provided opportunities for the young people to continue developing their golf skills and also 2 new young people joined the group (invited by existing participants) to try out Golf as a new sport.

“Having consistent people coaching each group, who are calm, reassuring, and welcoming makes a huge difference to these neurodivergent young people. Our learning that small groups, reduced noise, and affirming language is important, have continued to be essential elements of our programme designs.”

Places Leisure at Gosport Leisure Centre used the HAHP funding to kickstart their work supporting more neurodivergent people, and their families, to feel safe and comfortable using the leisure centre. A huge win was their recruitment of Angela Thompson, Inclusion Specialist, to support the team and customers at the leisure centre. Angela’s role has been extended, and she also advises other leisure centres in the area.

Dementia-Friendly Alton used the HAHP funding to increase the number and variety of indoor and out           door physical activity sessions that they offer for people living with dementia, and their carers.

Karen from Dementia-Friendly Alton told us that, “we now have physical activity at least twice a day, every day. Older people who do not have dementia, but live alone and are inactive, are joining our classes, as are some people with other long-term health conditions. Our sessions remain either free of charge, or low cost.”

Recognising that prevention is a vital part of dementia care, Dementia-Friendly Alton open their doors to anyone in the community who want some support, and are building a bustling community health and wellbeing hub at the Alton Assembly Rooms.

HAHP funded projects have evolved over the past six months. Recognising ongoing funding challenges they have innovated, forming partnerships and adapting so they can continue to meet the diverse needs of their communities.