The Programme
Backside to Trackside is a free-to-access, 9-week progressive running and walking programme, designed for beginners and those returning to physical activity, aged 12 and over, to help improve physical health, mental wellbeing, and social connection.
Sessions take place on local athletics tracks, providing a safe, flat, well-lit, and confidence-building environment. The programme supports participants to progress safely from inactivity to completing a 5km walk or run.
The programme will offer up to four sessions per week, with up to 30 participants per session, combining coached physical activity and structured themes. Education on mental health, nutrition, and many other healthy lifestyle behaviours is a key feature of the programme.
Backside to Trackside CIC works in partnership with local government and Integrated Care Systems to align delivery with strategic health and wellbeing priorities, including physical inactivity reduction, prevention of long-term conditions, and mental wellbeing improvement.
The programme is fully funded through grants, sponsorship and donations, and public-sector partnerships, ensuring no cost to participants and maximum accessibility for priority populations
The Mission
To reduce barriers to physical activity and improve health outcomes through inclusive, supportive, and community-based health and fitness programmes.
The Vision
We want to create communities of people who are enabled and equipped with the knowledge and confidence in their physical and mental health to lead active lifestyles and who take responsibility for their own wellbeing.
The History
Backside to Trackside originated in Basildon, Essex in 2019 as part of the towns 70th anniversary. It was designed by the now company Director Andy Stead and facilitated by Basildon Borough Council and Everyone Active.
In 2023 Andy, along with now Directors Kat and Billy created the CIC and have since grown the company to what you see today.
We are a CIC
A Community Interest Company (CIC) is a special type of limited company in the UK designed for social enterprises that use their assets and profits for public good rather than private gain. They operate as businesses with a social purpose, subject to an “asset lock” to ensure profits are reinvested into the community.
Meet the Directors
Andy:
Hey, I’m Andy. I’ve been coaching sports and exercise since I was 18; football, basketball, cycling, running, weight training, all sorts. As a PT I’ve had the privilege of training a huge variety of people from race car drivers to ballet dancers, insurance brokers to retired gardeners, people with visual impairments to wheelchair users, aged 6 to 86… this has given me a great appreciation and understanding of many different lifestyles and behaviours and also helped me shape my own life.
In 2019 I was asked to help design a health and fitness offering for Basildon residents and came up with the Backside to Trackside programme. In 2023 the chance to grow the programme came up with the birth of the CIC and since then, I’ve thrown myself in to expanding our programme and helping as many people as possible become healthier, stronger and generally more robust humans.
Kat:
I was never particularly sporty as a child and suffered a few health setbacks. Fast forward to adulthood after having two children and hitting a period of debilitating illness I found myself having to rebuild myself and health and fitness became my priority. Unable to do much at the beginning I ended up walking a 100km ultramarathon. I found out first hand how fitness can change your life and wanted to help do the same for others.
I now work full time as a 1-2-1 PT and specialise in older adults, cancer rehab, lower back pain and women’s health. I started up the Billericay 5kyourway way group encouraging people to walk run or jog a ParkRun after a cancer diagnosis and run a weekly GP referral rehab session.
In 2021 I went on to work for the Find Your Active campaign as a local community connector. This is where I took part in Backside to Trackside and when offered the chance I knew I had to get involved!
I’m really excited about growing this programme to reach more people and change more lives for the better.
Billy:
Hi, my name is Billy. I am married with two children, and support Southend United. I have been an accountant for over 25 years!
Much of my work is desk bound, so in 2021 I took part in and completed the programme to help improve my own health and fitness and saw the benefits right away, so when the opportunity came up to become a director of Backside to Trackside CIC, I jumped at the chance with the aim of making the programme accessible to as many people as possible. With my experience in accounting I primarily look after the companies finances.
Backside to Trackside 