|
Wigan Borough’s community leaders today joined forces to launch a
five-year policy to get the borough’s residents more involved in sport
and physical activity.
The Wigan Borough Partnership today, Monday 16th October, gave their
endorsement to a new strategic framework to tackle the growing problem
of physical inactivity that is threatening the quality of life of
people, not only in Wigan Borough, but across the nation.
Currently only around 30% of local residents regularly participate in
sport and/or physical activity, and whilst Wigan Borough is no worse
than the national average, local partners are keen to ensure that strong
plans are put in place to significantly impact on activity levels.
The S.H.A.P.E (Sport Health and Physical Education) policy, co-ordinated
by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and other key partners, will be put
into action from 2007 leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games.
Nick Colledge, Sport and Healthy Living Manager for Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust, said, “There is good evidence that shows how important it
is for people to be physically active in terms of both improving their
general health and reducing the risks of developing such conditions as
Diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease. Participation in sport and physical
activity also brings a wide range of other benefits, including education
and skill attainment, safer and stronger communities, as well as the
enjoyment of taking part itself.
Nick continues, “The SHAPE policy is not a document to gather dust, but
a way in which we can start to change the whole culture of how people
view physical activity. We have a good track record in Wigan, and, in
fact, a recent survey indicated that we are the second most active
borough in Greater Manchester, but these levels are still far too low.”
/more…
Thanks to the formation of the S.H.A.P.E. policy and the newly-formed
S.H.A.P.E. Board, Sport England has pledged £360,000 worth of funding
towards sporting and healthy living projects in Wigan Borough in the
next financial year.
Councillor James Moodie, who is advocating the policy, said, “Today was
a defining moment in the fight to get Wigan Borough’s residents more
active. The framework to positively improve people’s lifestyles is now
in place, but the hard work starts here. Between now and the spring we
will be working with the Primary Care Trust, all Council departments and
the Voluntary and Private Sectors to look at ways in which we can work
together to get more people physically active. No single organisation
can make a difference on their own – this is a strong pledge for us to
work together.”
Now that the policy has been officially endorsed by the Partnership, it
is hoped that all agencies will work together to help redress a number
of inequalities that impact on the Borough resident’s:
• levels of physical activity
• sense of identity, confidence and leadership
• health of the population
• strength of the community
• sporting and educational excellence
For further information about S.H.A.P.E. please contact Nick Colledge on
01942 404961 or visit
www.wlct.org.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to ensure that people across the Wigan Borough have the
opportunity to become more physically, mentally and creatively active.
It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good
citizenship.
►
Print this page
►
Return to Trust News
|
Left to Right - Co. James Moodie, Nick
Colledge (WLCT), Sharon Walls (Wigan Harriers and GB), Peter Smith
(Leader of Wigan Council)
|