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Take part in our Film Active Research project

We are recruiting volunteers to test out new short films created to generate ideas to support older adults to stay active.

Background information

Physical activity is important for health and wellbeing at any age, but older adults are the least active in society. This project aims to help them to stay active, using short films to create ideas for an age-friendly physical activity environment.


During 2022, we worked with older adults to create three film clips showing what they feel could help them be more active, and how we could help reduce some of the barriers.

The film clips are designed for three audiences:

  • people working in the physical activity industry (including fitness centres, clubs or other leisure providers)
  • people responsible for making towns and facilities accessible (including local authorities and councillors)
  • people of all ages interested in hearing about what could help or hinder them and their friends and families to keep active

Study start and end dates

  • Start date: 2 December 2022
  • End date: 31 May 2023

Information about participant eligibility

Anyone can take part, whatever their age or background.

We are particularly interested in hearing from people working in an industry that relates to physical activity. This may be people working in gyms and leisure centres, policymakers, people designing sports equipment and clothing, running local clubs and societies, and people working for local authorities who influence the environment around us.

Project aims

We would like to find out if the films:

  • make you think any differently about what older adults need or want
  • resonate with you, whatever your age, and how you think they could be useful
  • are relevant to the decisions you make day to day as part of your job, where promoting or facilitating physical activity is part of what you do

What is involved in the study

Taking part can be as quick as 15 minutes and will involve:

  • completing a one-off survey in which you'll be asked to view one of the film clips and give us your feedback
  • choosing which clip to watch and whether to watch just one, or more than one

The surveys are anonymous, so we won't take your name. If you work in a related field, we will ask what type of job you have, but not who you work for.

If you are interested in taking part in an optional follow up discussion group, you can register afterwards.

Relevant ethics approval information

This study has been approved by the University of Bath Research Ethics Approval Committee for Health (REACH).1

How to take part


We want to ask slightly different questions depending on why you are taking part. Whichever link you follow you will have the option to watch any of the films.

Person typing on a laptop

What you will receive


While there is no payment or reward for taking part, your generous input will help us to gather feedback on whether video-clips like these, generated by the people we are aiming to support, could be useful in trying to challenge how things are run.

The videos may give you some ideas or reminders of things to consider in either your own life, or what you do in your workplace. Importantly, the video clips are short and fun to watch! The clips are 3-6 minutes long.

People riding a gym bicycle following University of Bath leaders.

Funders and partners

This project benefits from the contributions of external funders and partners.


Find out more

Contact Fiona Gillison

1 This study has been approved by the University of Bath Research Ethics Approval Committee for Health (REACH) (ref/EP-22-099).