- Darren Campbell
Families in Solihull have been given support, tips and kit to help them kick-start a healthier 2026 as part of a community event hosted by Think Active.
Dozens of residents from the Smith’s Wood area came to our Free To Move event last month, where they were given free activewear, health advice and tips on how to get more active in their local area.
Held at Auckland Hall on 28 January, the event brought together a range of local partner organisations including Cars Area Together, a community initiative in Smith’s Wood which Think Active has supported for around a decade.
Visitors were offered a variety of free activewear as part of Think Active’s ‘Wear & Share’ scheme, designed to help people who are unable to afford suitable clothing for sport and physical activity by providing them with activewear collected from local clubs and organisations.
We know that clothing poverty is a growing concern and has become a substantial barrier for people being active
Bradley Jacques, Think Active
More than 60 items of clothing were distributed at the Free To Move event, including socks donated by Winnr Sport CIC as well as other items supplied by The Uplift Initiative, who also shared details about their local walking groups.
With several residents expressing how health concerns presented barriers for them engaging in more physical activity, support was on hand from other partners including Everyone Active, who provided free BMI and blood pressure checks alongside promoting local leisure centre facilities, while SoliHealth offered help for residents to access GP-based health checks.
Solihull Active provided advice on healthy lifestyles and Colebridge Trust promoted their health-based project, ‘Health in the Hearts of our Community’, while Meriden Adventure Playground (MAPA) were also in attendance to share details of their adventure playground and play sessions for local families.
In line with Think Active’s commitment to helping those who face the biggest inequalities and barriers to being active, a wide variety of people were supported at the event, including elderly residents, people from minority backgrounds and parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Residents attending the event were offered free health checks and given advice and support on healthy lifestyles
Free To Move received some great feedback after the event, with partners describing it as “a very positive afternoon”.
Bradley Jacques, Partnership Manager at Think Active, said: “The event in Solihull was a fantastic opportunity to bring a network of partners together and support residents in Smith’s Wood who are looking to become more physically active.
“We know that clothing poverty is a growing concern and has become a substantial barrier for people being active. This event offered residents a chance to take their first step towards being more active and to find out more about opportunities on their doorstep.”
Think Active is a member of the Active Partnerships network, collaborating with local partners throughout Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire to promote the power of sport and physical activity for transforming lives and keeping people living well. Find out more about what we do.
