As cost is still a major barrier to participation in physical activity, leisure centre operator and social enterprise, BH Live, has announced a free park-based summer activity programme.

Starting on 7 May and running weekly until September, the hour-long, HIIT-based, PT sessions is taking place in one of Portsmouth’s parks, led by BH Live instructors. The aim is to encourage more people to participate in physical activity by making it accessible and fostering some community spirit.

All fitness levels and abilities will be catered for, with alternative movements demonstrated for both advanced and beginner levels. Participants aged 12+ are welcome, with under-18s accompanied by a caregiver.

Sessions are free to attend with no booking required, but a suggested £2 donation (cash or electronic donation via QR code) on the day is encouraged, with all funds donated to BH Live’s Investing In Community Fund to contribute to the delivery of future health and wellbeing community projects across the city.

Other activities will come on stream later as part of the summer events programme, including Stretch and Relax Yoga sessions. The project is being funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered by Portsmouth City Council.

Carla Earle, BH Live’s community sports manager for Portsmouth, said: “We hope this will encourage more people across the city to have a go at a new activity, discover the benefits of being regularly active, while enjoying the lovely setting of Victoria Park.”

Initiatives such as this are valuable, since Sport England’s Active Lives Adult Survey Report 2023-2024, released recently, revealed that while activity levels are creeping upwards, stubborn inequalities remain. More needs to be done to engage people with characteristics of inequality: women, older people, people living with disabilities, those in lower socio-economic groups and Black and Asian communities.