Mark Heazle, Sports Development Officer

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• Mark Heazle, Sports Development Officer
• Francesca Gibson, Physical Activity Coordinator

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The purpose of Active Together is to improve
health by increasing the physical activity levels
of 6,160 people living in Leicestershire to 3 x
30 mins of physical activity per week
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How will Active Together increase Physical
Activity Levels?

• The project aims to break down barriers to
  participation at a local level
• It will encourage non-participants and hard to
  reach groups to take part in physical activity
• It will help individuals to change their
  lifestyles

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Why do we need to increase levels of physical
activity?

• The national Active People survey interviewed
  350,000 people nationally in 2006
• In Leicestershire only 22 took part in 3 x 30
  minutes of physical activity per week (the levels
  of participation nationally vary from 17 to 24)

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East Midlands Results
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What is Physical Activity?

• For this project, physical activity is a sport or
  active recreation activity that makes your
  breathing increase, your heart beat faster and
  makes you feel warmer.
• Physical activity includes walking, cycling,
  dance, chair based classes, going to the gym,
  swimming, badminton, tennis, football etc
• BUT it does NOT include housework, gardening etc!

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How will Active Together achieve its aims?

• The Local Area Agreement (LAA), Sport England and
  local partners have invested almost 700k from
  October 2006 until March 2009 in the Active
  Together project.
• 11 physical activity co-ordinators have been
  appointed throughout Leicestershire and are
  working in partnership with their Local Sport
  Alliances (LSAs)
• The 11 posts consist of 7 District posts and 4
  shared Area specialist posts (working with
  target groups)
• Each post has a target of getting 560 adults
  doing 3 x 30 mins of physical activity per week

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Posts across Leicestershire
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• Francesca Gibson 45 plus age group
• Gareth Redfern 16-45 age group, disadvantage
  groups

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• Research
• Speaking to people in the community what
  activities do they want? (villages/libraries/schoo
  ls/community centres)
• Finding out what already exists in the community
• Analysis of current physical activity sessions

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Networking

• In the community
• Youth Workers- The HUB
• Parish Councils
• Youth Council Members
• Volunteer Walk Leaders
• Freelance fitness instructors
• Local Groups
• Friends of Melton Country Park
• RAGE
• Mother and Toddler Groups
• Young Parents group and many more!

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Networking

• Partner Agencies
• Primary Care Trust
• Age Concern
• CVS Melton
• Connexions
• Agency Forums
• Health Forum
• Active Melton
• Seniors Forum

• Initiatives
• Walking the way to health
• National Pedometer Campaign
• Venues
• Leisure Facilities
• Community Centres
• Church Halls
• Sports Clubs
• Sheltered Housing

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Progress to date

• Set up of new physical activity sessions
  including
• Guided walks programme
• Table tennis
• Sequence dancing
• Gentle activity sessions in village
• Promoting current and new physical activity
  sessions to increase levels of participation
• Signposting new clients to suitable physical
  activity sessions

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Current Projects

• Walks programme-
• new 6 month guided walk programme for seniors,
  walks in Melton Country Park and in surrounding
  villages throughout Melton
• Dancing for the over 50s-
• Dancing lessons to include Ballroom, sequence
  and line dancing
• Table tennis-
• Run by the members of the local community, these
  sessions take place at South Melton Community
  Centre every Thursday
• Gentle activity for men and women
• Activities to include skittles and bowls at
  Great Dalby Village Hall

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Current Projects Workplace Health

• Successful workplace launch held in January
• Weekly activity sessions set up which include
  table tennis, badminton, yoga, Tai Chi and
  swimming
• Regular health checks with staff
• Forthcoming pedometer challenge

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Future Projects

• SAQ sessions in the community- focusing on
  balance and coordination
• Chair Based exercise classes
• Yoga in the community
• Cycling programme
• Falls prevention schemes
• Sport sessions with Local colleges

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Contact details

• Francesca Gibson 01664 502378
• fgibson_at_melton.gov.uk
• Gareth Redfern 01664 502378
• gredfern_at_melton.gov.uk
• Mark Heazle 01664 502378
• mheazle_at_melton.gov.uk

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Any Questions?