Stoke-on-Trent City Council awarded £500,000 from Sport England |
Stoke-on-Trent City Council will, from next week, be part of a large scale project to improve the City’s health and fitness.
In partnership with Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust, the City will be engaging in the "Be Active, Be Healthy" Lifestyle Programme, designed to help people who want to be involved from anything from losing weight to avoiding heart disease. Sport England has awarded the City Council half-a-million pounds from their National Lottery funded Community Investment Fund to implement the £2million project, allowing anyone involved free access to all of the City’s leisure facilities for the 20 weeks that the programme runs.
Criteria to be eligible for the scheme include being at risk of, or suffering from, heart disease, having recovered from heart problems, or being diabetic.
The project with begin in the North East of the city from Tuesday 18 August, and involves a three stage process:
Councillor Debra Gratton, portfolio holder for Sport and Leisure, said: “Stoke-on-Trent is committed to improving the health and fitness of everyone living in the city. The “Be Active, Be Healthy” programme is part of our continuing partnership with the Primary Care Trust to ensure people who would benefit from a sustained fitness scheme get that opportunity.
"In producing a specific programme created for each individual involved in the course, we are ensuring that we reach and help as many people as possible and I’m confident this will have long term benefits for the wellbeing."
Rauf Mirza, Chair, Sport England West Midlands Regional Sports Board, said: "Taking part in sport and physical activity can have such an impact on improving the health of individuals. This award has been given to make a real impact across a high number of people in the Stoke-on-Trent area whose health is seriously at risk through their sedentary lifestyle.
"Many partners are working together on this project to ensure that it has the widest impact and that the programme is sustainable, with long term benefits for all those involved. I congratulate everyone on achieving this award and look forward to receiving news of some impressive outcomes from the programme."
Mark Thornewill, Director of Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent commented: "Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent was delighted to work with and support the "Be Active, Be Healthy" partners in submitting a successful Community Investment Fund application. This is an innovative project which aims to help a significant number of people become active and enjoy the benefits that participation in sport and physical activity can bring. Through this project, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stoke-on-Trent PCT are working tremendously hard with a range of partners within the City to make a real difference to people’s lives."
For more information contact Marie Jenkins, Acting Health and Funding Development Manager Community Services Directorate Telephone: 01782 235706
|
Click here to return to the newsletter