Together, we can.

My speech to the GM Moving conference, March 2024.

In 30 years of my career so far, I have never been so proud, hopeful and optimistic about the work we are doing and have been doing together here in Greater Manchester.

 

 

Movement matters to all of us. It matters to you, your family, your colleagues and your community and yet, it was being designed-out of life. So together we are creating the conditions and designing it back in. For everyone. Changing culture, policy, the environment, working with all sectors, organisations and people. 

We are growing a movement together and everyone is playing their part. We are taking an innovative approach. Because past approaches were having limited impact at scale. 

 

 

I, and we are testing, learning, failing, learning and adapting –  as we work to address inequalities and inactivity. Because we understand the strong relationship between them. We are influencing nationally and locally to shift economic and social drivers of inactivity like poverty, racism, ableism, misogyny, ageism, homophobia, transphobia and class discrimination. We are working towards a world where justice for people and planet is top of our hierarchy of values.

We are using our collective influence and voice for change- making moving everyone’s business. Unlocking and aligning resource and capacity towards our shared mission: Active Lives for All. 

 

We are growing strategic leadership that supports the collective leadership, of everyone here and beyond this room. We are all growing community strength and power. We are working across sectors because we all have a role to play- including you, you community leaders, you coaches, you planners and architects, you doctors and policy makers. You supporters and inspirers. 

We have believers and agents of change for this mission everywhere.

We are transforming our ways of working, and leading with courage to influence everything that gets in the way of our people and our communities- realising our potential. 

And change is possible…. 

Despite some fierce headwinds, Greater Manchester was reducing inactivity at nearly three times the rate of change nationally before the pandemic. And we have recovered twice as quickly as the national rate.

This work has been a priority here since 2015 and will continue to be.

We have a long way to go, and we are going there together. International, national and local evidence shows that this more systemic approach is necessary. Our biggest opportunity lies in the power we have in this room, to change culture: challenge and shift dominant worldviews that drive beliefs and assumptions that drive policy, decisions and investment… that drive behaviours …. at scale. 

I see, feel and hear evidence of that every day. You will see, feel and hear it too.  You’ll experience it today, in everything you see, hear and do. Because right here, right now at this conference, we are changing ideas about what this work is and how we do it…even what we wear and how much we move in the process!

This is a conference that moves and makes change happen. It takes a different kind of leadership and practice. It’s human. It’s about relationships. It’s about flattening hierarchies and bringing people with different perspectives together. We are changing the rules and changing the culture and practice of work, to make greater change possible.

It is powerful. And impactful.

You and your relationships are the beating heart of this movement. They are the greatest catalyst for influence and change. So, build more, and more diverse relationships that grow belief and action as you play your part and grow this movement. You are all GM Moving movers and shakers. It’s who you are and it’s what you do….  the ripple effect of this conference goes far beyond this day and these rooms. People here from across GM and from Wales, London, Devon and beyond all unlocking potential to Unite the Movement nationally, and globally.

I am so proud of the change you are making through this work. And I’m more hopeful than ever about how much further and deeper we can go together. I am especially proud of my team and all those connected to us, who have designed and delivered this conference with ease and skill…  And I am grateful to Eve – the glue who has held it all together, who will now guide us to the rest of our day.