Northolt Active and Connected- Your Voice Your Town

Your Voice, Your Town Northolt

Northolt Active and Connected 

Who are you?

Golden Opportunity Skills and Development (GOS&D) is a community organisation that has been supporting residents across Ealing for many years through advice, learning, health and wellbeing, digital inclusion and community activities.

Through the Your Voice, Your Town Northolt programme, GOS&D delivered Northolt Active and Connected, a community-led health and wellbeing project for Northolt residents.

The project was designed to reduce social isolation, improve physical and mental wellbeing and create opportunities for local residents to meet, exercise and build supportive relationships.

The project was delivered at Northolt Village Community Centre by GOS&D staff, an experienced session facilitator and volunteers. It also complemented our existing work in Northolt, including our weekly ESOL classes and advice support at Northolt Library.

1. What did you deliver?

From April 2026 to 30 September 2026, GOS&D delivered 26 weekly two-hour Northolt Active and Connected sessions at Northolt Village Community Centre.

This provided a total of 52 hours of community-based health and wellbeing activity, benefiting more than 50 Northolt residents.

The sessions combined gentle physical activity and Keep Fit exercises with opportunities for residents to socialise and connect with other people from their local community. Activities focused on movement, mobility, strength, balance and general wellbeing and were designed to be accessible to people with different levels of fitness and ability.

Following the physical activity, participants had time to socialise over refreshments, talk to other residents and develop friendships and support networks.

The sessions were delivered by an experienced facilitator with support from GOS&D staff and volunteers. We promoted the activities locally and through our existing Northolt networks, including our ESOL and advice services at Northolt Library.

Throughout the project, we encouraged new Northolt residents to join and regular participants to motivate friends, family members and neighbours to become more active.

Key achievements

• 26 weekly sessions delivered
• 52 hours of health and wellbeing activity
• 50+ Northolt residents participated
• Regular gentle exercise and Keep Fit activities provided
• Activities accessible to different fitness levels and abilities
• Opportunities for social interaction and new friendships
• Refreshments and informal social time provided
• New Northolt residents encouraged to participate
• Participants encouraged to support and motivate one another to stay active

2. What difference did the project make?

Northolt Active and Connected made a positive difference to both the physical and social wellbeing of local residents.

More than 50 Northolt residents participated across 26 weekly sessions, giving local people a free, welcoming and accessible opportunity to exercise regularly within their own community.

Over the six-month project, we observed participants becoming more confident and comfortable with physical activity. The weekly sessions helped people establish healthier routines and encouraged them to remain active.

The social element was equally important. Participants had opportunities to meet other Northolt residents, talk, share experiences and develop friendships. The combination of exercise and social interaction created a welcoming community atmosphere and helped address social isolation.

Participants also encouraged friends and other local residents to join, helping the project reach more people and creating a greater sense of community ownership.

Feedback and informal conversations showed that participants particularly valued having a regular, friendly activity available locally and enjoyed being able to exercise and socialise at the same time.

Typical feedback received through conversations with participants included:

“I really enjoyed coming every week. The exercises helped me feel more active and confident, but I also enjoyed meeting other people from Northolt. I have made new friends and I feel less isolated.”

Another participant commented:

“The sessions were friendly and suitable for everyone. I did not feel confident about exercise before, but the trainer made it easy to take part at my own pace. I would really like the sessions to continue because they have become an important part of my week.”

These comments are representative summaries of the type of feedback received rather than verbatim recorded quotations.

Overall, the project demonstrated that accessible, community-based physical activity can contribute to improved wellbeing while also strengthening relationships and connections between local residents.

3. What did you learn?

One of our biggest lessons was that residents valued social connection as much as physical activity.

Although people initially joined because of the Keep Fit and wellbeing activities, the opportunity to meet others, have conversations and feel part of a regular group became an important part of the project.

We also learned that consistency matters. Delivering 26 weekly sessions over six months gave participants time to develop confidence, establish healthy routines and build relationships with one another.

Our existing presence in Northolt also helped. Through our weekly ESOL classes and advice support at Northolt Library, we already had relationships with local residents and community networks. This helped us promote the project and reach people who might otherwise not participate in organised health and wellbeing activities.

Another important lesson was the value of encouraging participants themselves to become involved. Regular participants increasingly encouraged friends, family members and other residents to stay active and take part.

We also learned that activities do not need to be complicated to make a difference. Providing a friendly local venue, regular activity, a welcoming facilitator and opportunities to socialise can encourage people to participate and remain engaged.

Our top tip to others would be: listen to residents, keep activities simple and accessible, deliver them consistently and give local people opportunities to take ownership.

4. What next?

Although the funded Northolt Active and Connected project ended on 30 September 2026, we want the benefits and relationships created through the project to continue.

We have encouraged participants to continue exercising, staying connected and supporting one another. Regular participants have also been encouraged to share simple activities and motivate their friends, families and neighbours to remain active.

GOS&D will maintain its wider presence in Northolt through our existing community activities, including our weekly ESOL classes and advice support at Northolt Library. This will allow us to maintain relationships with residents and continue identifying local needs.

The participation of more than 50 Northolt residents across 26 sessions demonstrates local interest in accessible community-based health and wellbeing activities.

We would therefore like to continue the weekly Northolt Active and Connected sessions if further funding can be secured.

We will use the participation, feedback and learning generated through this project to seek further funding and develop additional opportunities for Northolt residents to stay active, connected and healthy.

5. What would you say to anyone else looking to make a difference to their Town or take part in Your Voice, Your Town?

We would encourage other residents and community organisations to take part in Your Voice, Your Town.

You do not always need a large or complicated project to make a difference. A simple activity delivered regularly in the right place can bring people together, improve wellbeing and help create stronger community relationships.

Our experience in Northolt showed us the importance of listening to residents and creating something that is accessible, welcoming, local and enjoyable.

Use existing community spaces and networks, speak directly to local people and encourage participants to become involved in shaping activities rather than simply receiving a service.

It is also important to give a project time to develop. People may initially attend because of the activity itself, but over time friendships, confidence and a sense of belonging can develop.

Most importantly, build on the strengths that already exist within the community. Local residents have knowledge, skills, relationships and enthusiasm. When they are given an opportunity to participate and take ownership, a relatively small project can create benefits that continue beyond the original funding.

Our message to others would be:

Start with a simple idea, listen to your community, involve local people and give it a go. Small local actions can make a meaningful difference to your town.