How does it work in practice? Approaches to supporting policy and action for active environments in 5 countries – the SPACE project

Abstract

Purpose Environments can support physical activity, for example in schools, workplaces and the local neighbourhood. The 3-year Erasmus+ SPAcE project (Supporting Policy and action for ACtive Environments) supports local communities to develop policies and interventions to promote physical activity-friendly environments, especially active transport choices (cycling and walking). Methods Implementation sites in Latvia (Tukums), Italy (Palermo), Romania (Brasov), Spain (Castilla-La Mancha) and Greece (Trikala) will develop environment and policy changes in the form of Urban Active Environments (UActivE) Action Plans. The project offers resources and advice from academics and NGOs through a review of evidence, good practice examples and international guidance documents. Results We summarized the scientific evidence on the influence of the environment on physical activity and identified relevant and realistic good practice examples. 3 examples per partner were characterised in detail to serve as knowledge pool for the development of the individual UActivE Action Plans. Each site has formed working groups and started a process to influence policy and practice, based on international guidance for healthy urban planning. Next steps include the selection of specific interventions for each site and preparation of the political negotiations of the plans. Local teams will also be trained in using the Health Economic Assessment Tools (HEAT) to quantify the economic value of their UActivE Action Plan. Conclusions By 2017, a Summary of Evidence and Good Practice document, a guidance document on “How to Create and Evaluate a UActivE Action Plan” including case studies from 5 sites and a ‘How- to- guidance on measuring the value of a UActivE Action Plan” will be developed. Unique learning will be available on the challenges and best solutions on translating evidence on creating activity-friendly environments into practice in local communities across Europe.