Connecting Preston people through movement
Preston Moves works with partners across our city to help people move more in ways that work for them.
And we talk about movement in a way that people understand. We’re an independent organisation with a team that represents Preston’s diverse people, professional and VCFSE community.
Our approach
Preston Moves is shaped by our people
Built around what we need in Preston
Our children & young people
Supporting Preston’s youth to be healthier, happier and find joy in movement.
Our community health
Supporting our people and our NHS by showing how everyday movement can support health and wellbeing.
Our spaces and places
Exploring how our local places and spaces can make it easy for people to be active.
The way we talk about movement
We’re listening to our communities telling us what motivates them to move more – and what makes movement seem manageable.
The way we talk about movement
We’re listening to our communities telling us what motivates them to move more – and what makes movement seem manageable.
Who we work with
A partnership built across the city
Preston Moves brings together organisations that shape how people live, move and access help and activities across Preston
We bring together community leaders to learn from each other in systems leadership workshops, through our Preston Movement Community events and creative engagement training. And we share what is good in our city and what we are learning. Our goal is for Preston people to learn from Preston people.
We’re prioritising work in:
Ribbleton
St Matthews
Deepdale
Fishwick & Frenchwood
We want to speak to community organisations and people working in these areas so we can learn what’s working and what’s not.
We’re an independent organisation supported by Sport England with a team that represents Preston’s diverse people, professional and VCFSE community.
Preston
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Ribbleton
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St Matthews
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Deepdale
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Fishwick & Frenchwood
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Preston 〰️ Ribbleton 〰️ St Matthews 〰️ Deepdale 〰️ Fishwick & Frenchwood 〰️
We’d love to connect!
Tell us what your organisation is doing – or would like to do – to get the people of Preston moving
Moving stories
Find out how people are getting Preston moving
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The Covid-19 pandemic made Principal Khalid Ibrahim of Deepdale's Quwwat Education Centre reflect.
The link between physical activity and health was impossible to ignore - and Khalid recognised that many adults in his community were inactive. He wanted to change that, starting with the young people in his care.
The charity recruited a fitness coordinator and introduced structured activity programmes, giving children time and space to move. Sports equipment was sourced, facilities reconfigured, and a range of activities introduced - table tennis, jujitsu, free play, and even boxing classes for parents.
Today, hundreds of children participate in physical activities each week alongside their studies.
The impact has gone beyond the sessions themselves. A significant mindset shift is underway across the wider community, with fundraising now underway for a community health and fitness hub.
"The focus is on ensuring children and young people are happy, active, and able to achieve their full potential."
Khalid Ibrahim, Principal
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With £20 million being invested in Preston through the Pride in Place programme and Sport England supporting Preston Moves as one of their Place Partnerships, we have a real opportunity to improve what's available for Preston people.
To make the most of that opportunity, we need to understand what's already here.
If your organisation, space or service supports people to be physically active in Preston, we want to hear from you.
Please take part in our 5-minute survey.
We want to hear from community groups, clubs, venues, parks, programmes and the professionals who make it all happen. The more we know, the better we can support, fill gaps and improve what's already working.
The survey is being carried out by FMG Consulting on behalf of Preston Moves. Your information will be stored securely and will not be publicly identified in any reports.
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We know that mental and physical health are connected. When we move more, we often feel better - and when we feel better, we're more likely to move. But for many, including those experiencing isolation, stress or poor mental health, this can feel out of reach.
Men are less likely to seek help for mental health difficulties, less likely to engage with support services, and more likely to reach crisis point. In Preston's priority neighbourhoods, where economic pressures are highest, this can be even harder.
And that’s why community-led activity, peer support and safe social spaces are so important. There are groups across our city doing brilliant work. Healthier Heroes Preston, Andy's Man Club, Men in Sheds, Happy Daze and others are creating spaces where men can connect, talk and - increasingly - move together. They are seeing the benefits that getting active as a group can make.
Preston Moves wants to support conversations about how this is working between groups across the city – sharing what’s working and building on it.
If your organisation uses movement, activity, peer support or community connection to support mental health and wellbeing for men, women or children, we’d love to hear from you.
Please use our contact form.
Get involved
Work with Preston Moves
Whether you're a community organisation, health provider, school, or employer – if you're working to support people in Preston to be more active, we want to hear from you.
Please email hello@prestonmoves.org or send a message using the form.