Active Children Through Individual Vouchers Evaluation (ACTIVE)

Project Overview

The ACTIVE randomised control trial was based in seven secondary schools aiming to get teenagers in Swansea more active.

Following conversations with teenagers, the project aimed to overcome barriers such as lack of money and lack of local provision to improve access to local activities.

We ran a year-long intervention in four of the seven schools involving over 700 pupils aged 13–14. This empowered teenagers to make their own choices about activity and included a voucher scheme (£20 per month to spend on existing provision, creating new provisions in their communities or on equipment), peer mentoring and support worker engagement.

Project Outcomes

Collaborative / Industry Partners

Publications

Project Outcomes

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Intervention slowed the decline in fitness throughout the year. Girls, in particular, saw a significant improvement in the number classed as ‘fit’ at 12 months compared to the control group.
Blood pressure showed a significant drop in numbers of pupils categorised as having high blood pressure in the intervention group.
Teenagers identified as autonomously motivated from the questionnaire. This means that they know they need to be active, but any intervention that uses guilt or pressures them to be active will not appeal to them.
The way teenagers used the vouchers showed that they wanted to do unstructured, fun and social activities (for example, trampolining, the waterpark and laser tag).
Teenagers said that transport to activities remained a barrier and that there was a lack of knowledge and support for activities. While the voucher scheme empowered teenagers to make their own choices, helped change their attitudes, and reduced cost barriers, more needs to happen to improve transport to activities, bring activities local to teenagers and raise awareness.

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