Over the past few weeks we have asked families to send us images and stories of how they have managed to remain active during lockdown. We received over 100 photos and they have been compiled into a two-minute video.
Originally, after we saw how quiet the roads were, and that this seemed to be encouraging people to walk, run and cycle, we asked people to send pictures of enjoying the quieter roads. But the response we had included all forms of activity; indoors or outside, on the beach, in the sea, on bikes, in lanes, and we’ve embraced this diversity in our film.
Alun Williams, Be Active lead said:
‘The past four weeks in lockdown have demonstrated the value and importance of keeping active for our physical and mental wellbeing. The response we’ve captured shows how our community can turn difficult times into fun, enjoyable activity, often with their family. It also shows what a wonderful environment is on our doorstep. The film is testimony to how important keeping active is to our individual and collective wellbeing and it is heart-warming to see so many positive images’.
However, not everyone can, or finds it easy to, keep active and we must ensure, especially as we move out of lockdown, that as an island, we work to support all of us to be more active, more often.
Alun commented: There is no room for complacency, especially as we need every sector of the community to engage in making keeping active the norm and easy to do. A concern that I have is that the current situation could widen inequalities when it comes to participation in physical activity. Those who have been isolating, had to juggle jobs, children, home schooling, may find it harder to fit physical activity in and potential increases in unemployment, lower incomes and housing concerns could make this worse. This makes it even more important to create a post-lockdown environment where physical activity is easy to fit in to our daily lives and routines.