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MORE SHAPE LINKS
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Active Living
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Active Life
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Sports Development
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Lifestyle
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Wigan Borough Sports Council
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What's On Event Guides
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Wigan Council
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WiganPOPP
(Partnerships for Older People Projects)
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Help4me
Help4me is an easy-to-use online directory of services for children and
young people aged 0 to 19 in the Wigan Borough.
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Ladybird Fitness
For ladies-only who are wanting to lose weight and get fit.
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LINC Online
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Connexions
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Kooth
Online counselling, support and advice service.
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Leigh Centurions RLFC Community Department
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Sport Home Page
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SHAPE Questions and Answers
What is SHAPE?
SHAPE is the name of Wigan Borough’s new 5 year action plan to get
local
residents involved in regular physical activity or sport. The snappy
name
was chosen because it stands for everything we are trying to improve:
Sport,
Health
And
Physical
Education.
Who set it up?
The plan has been developed in partnership with Wigan Council, Ashton
Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust, the Wigan Borough Sports Council,
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and other partners in the private and
voluntary sectors.
Why are there so many parties involved?
Sport and physical activity are not the single responsibility of any
one
organisation. If we really want to make a difference, we need to get
real
partnership working, involving everyone who can have an impact. SHAPE
provides the mechanism to involve all partners – to support joint
projects
and to monitor and measure the impact we are having.
Why is SHAPE a partnership?
SHAPE brings together partners from across the Borough in a unique
example of joined-up working. This will enable us to identify, measure,
manage and promote the good work that partners are already doing to get
people more active and therefore more healthy. In addition we can start
to
identify opportunities to work together in the delivery of programmes,
sharing expertise, facilities and knowledge to ensure that what we are
offering the people of Wigan is of the highest quality. Finally, by
working in
partnership we can highlight any current gaps in provision, for example
sections of the community that don’t have sufficient opportunity to
access
sport and healthy activity programmes, and can focus our resources on
providing tailor-made targeted activities to cover these areas.
Why SHAPE?
There is significant evidence to support the health benefits of being
regularly physically active. Many of Wigan Borough’s residents are
already passionate about sport and live extremely active lifestyles, but
there are those who would greatly benefit from more exercise. It isn’t
just
about getting more people to play sports, SHAPE aims to help build a
stronger community through local participation.
Who is SHAPE aimed at?
SHAPE is aimed at everyone living in the Wigan Borough. Everyone can
benefit from being more physically active – whatever your age or level
of
physical fitness. There are all kinds of opportunities available at the
local
level from classes for the ‘fitness fanatic’ right through to programmes
working with older adults to help maintain independent living.
Is SHAPE on offer anywhere else?
SHAPE is unique to Wigan. Nationally, Wigan has a strong track record
in
promoting and delivering excellent sports and physical activity
opportunities; this initiative will be closely watched by councils throughout
the country and we hope it will become an exemplary model.
How will SHAPE benefit local people?
Because SHAPE reflects the contribution of partner organisations,
programmes will run across a broad range of organisations and will
affect
many aspects of peoples’ lives. For example, future planning and
regeneration will focus on improving the built environment and leisure
facilities, e.g. cycle lanes, better maintained parks and new sporting
facilities. These sorts of changes will have a positive impact on the
lives
of local people. We also expect SHAPE will help Wigan Borough meet, and
exceed national targets on increasing participation in active
lifestyles. How do I find out what’s on offer?
A vibrant marketing campaign has already begun, promoting SHAPE and
the opportunities everyone has to get involved in sport and physical
activity. This includes the Wigan One magazine delivered to all
households within the Borough, posters and leaflets in a variety of
community settings, bus advertising and of course our dedicated website.
All these resources give
a wealth of information about the activities and opportunities available
for
everyone to get involved in. How do I get involved?
There are plenty of opportunities available to people to get involved,
and
this isn’t just limited to participating in sport or exercise. For
instance, how
about getting involved in coaching or volunteering in your local community
or voluntary sports club? Through SHAPE partners such as Wigan Leisure
& Culture Trust, Wigan MBC and the Wigan Borough Sports Council you
can find out about the opportunities that exist for people to get
involved
and make a positive contribution both to their own health and well-being
and to the community at large.
How will SHAPE have a positive impact on health?
There is substantial research and evidence to support the positive
impact
that sport and physical activity can have on health and well-being.
Quite
apart from the physical health benefits of keeping active and exercising
regularly, sport and physical activity can have a terrific positive
effect on a
person’s mental health. This can range from the enjoyment and friendship
from taking part in a team sport, joining a gym or club, or volunteering
at a
local sports club, to the simple ‘feel good’ factor of going for a walk,
run or
cycle ride.
There are also a wide range of sport and physical activity programmes
specifically designed to improve health, such as:
• Steps to Health - Physical Activity Referral Scheme working in
partnership
with local Health Services.
• Next Steps - encouraging sedentary people to become more active.
• Stepping Out - working with Wigan POPP this programme is aimed at
providing older people with opportunities to increase physical activity.
• Al Fresco - this project aims to use the great outdoors to encourage
all ages
and abilities to become more physically active. Projects include, Dark
Horse,
Orienteering, Tai Chi, Golf and Bowling taster sessions.
• Food & Physical Activity - working with SureStart and PCT the project
aims to
provide healthy eating and physical activity opportunities for parents/carers
and 0-5 year olds.
• Bridge Builders - the project works with mental health services and
support
agencies to raise awareness and increase participation amongst mental
health service users.
• Lets Get Active - the aim of the project is to provide appropriate
physical
activity and leisure opportunities for adults who have a learning
disability.
• Well@Work - the Well@Work project is all about improving health and
wellbeing
in the workplace.
• On Yer Bike - this project works in conjunction with Cycle Projects
and PCT
to help adults get back into cycling in a safe, fun and healthy way.
• Fit 4 Fun Academy (obesity programme) - which includes Girls Allowed,
Mini
Fit Friendz & Fit Friends.
• Multi-Skills Clubs
• Multi-Sports Clubs
• Get Active, Get Volunteering
• Coach Education programme
• Disability sessions
• Individual sports development officers
Can SHAPE provide any funding for my club or organisation?
SHAPE itself is not a funding body, however as a direct consequence of
the partnership working we have already been successful in bringing
funding from Sport England into the Borough to provide a new and
exciting range of sport and physical activity projects has been
rolled out since October 2007. The fact that we are working in partnership clearly
gives us a head-start both in the successful bid to Sport England and in
potential future bids for funding over the next five years.
Whilst SHAPE is unable to bestow grants to sports clubs or
organisations,
we are able to offer support and advice in applying for funding. For
example we would urge all voluntary sports clubs to join Wigan Borough
Sports Council, which can provide assistance in developing and
submitting funding bids. What if I haven’t done any exercise for a long time … is there
something for me?
SHAPE is not about elite athletes and sportspeople, it is for all the
people
of Wigan Borough, from children to older adults, and for people who
regularly take part in exercise to those who might not have exercised
for
some time. The SHAPE partners have a range of programmes to cater for
all, simply check the links on the website or phone our dedicated
information line to find out about the activities that might interest
you. For
many people the thought of returning to exercise can be a difficult step
to
take. The Active Living Team’s ‘Next Steps’ programme offers a wide
range of activity programmes for all ages, tastes and abilities –
helping
people to get back to or begin a more physically active lifestyle. If
you are
concerned about taking part in an exercise programme due to health
reasons, then contact your GP, and find out about the ‘Steps to Health’
service. A wide range of activity sessions are provided to help and
support people with different health needs.
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Get Volunteering, Get Active!
Wigan is Two-Thirds Green Spaces - Try
Something New Today!
Dance Your Heart Out with SHAPE! |
