Physical Activity

Get Moving Nottingham aims to encourage lifestyle changes in the residents and workers of Nottingham.  We want to promote an increase in activity in daily routines so that more people achieve the recommended levels of 30 minutes, 5 times a week for adults.

What’s been achieved in Nottingham so far?

• LPSA target for physical activity achieved in 2006
  
• Physical activity recommendation and referral schemes are now operating in more than half of Nottingham City with excellent take up of places
  
• Levels of physical activity are improving as shown by the 6% increase in leisure centre usage in 2005/06 and the 48% increase in sport development event attendance.
  
• Healthy Schools are working to increase physical activity – in fact, their achievements are already over the national average with 86% primary and 64% secondary school pupils participating in a minimum of 2 hours per week
  
• The BBC Radio Nottingham Get Active Club joined forces with Get Moving Nottingham and voluntary groups in January 2006 and had the best ever response to one of their radio campaigns
  
• 25% (845) sport training course places have been reserved and booked for vulnerable young people

What are Nottingham’s targets?

• To increase the level of physical activity in priority groups in order to reduce cardiovascular disease and falls in older people
  
• To increase the percentage of pupils spending more than 2 hours per  week involved in sport

Who is doing what?

• Nottingham City Council is transforming its leisure centres with £18,000,000 of investment – several of them have already achieved QUEST status
  
• The Get Moving Nottingham branding was created by the Local Exercise Action Pilot (LEAP) and adopted by Nottingham’s Communities for Health campaign.  Its use is now offered to any initiatives aimed at increasing levels of physical activity across the City.  A database of activities is available from the Get Moving Nottingham website.
  
• The YMCA supports increasing physical activity in the most vulnerable groups across the city through initiatives such as Football in the Community funded through St Ann’s Healthy Living Centre
  
• Culturally sensitive activities are offered through the Leisure Services eg swimming sessions for Asian women
  
• Go 4 It, a cross-sector partnership, offers fun based sporting activities for overweight children – evaluation has showed that after 3 months there had been a 4% increase in physical activity
  
• The ‘Footprints’ initiative has led to a 3% increase in children walking to school (with a consequent 2% decrease in car use in Autumn 2005)
  
• The ‘Big Wheel’ encourages walking and cycling.   Workplace promotions include the Bike to Work day and Walk to Work days
  
• Targeted support aimed at those most in need is being offered through Healthy Living Centres, Peer Mentors and Specialist Physical Activity Advisors
  
• Local employers, including Nottingham City Council, offer staff benefits towards increasing their exercise
  
• Best Foot Forward provides 8 walks throughout the city and trains walk leaders
  
• The LEAP campaign resulted in a 6% increase in physical activity for the over 50s
  

Want to know more?

• Nottingham City Council’s Leisure Services http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/sitemap/services/leisure_and_culture/leisurecentres.htm
• Nottingham’s Healthy Schools Programme http://www.nottinghamhealthyschools.org.uk/pa.html
• Nottingham City PCT Fact Sheet on Physical Activity
• Get Moving Nottingham - physical activity for the over 50s http://www.getmovingnottingham.nhs.uk
• Walking the way to health http://www.whi.org.uk/
• Sport England http://www.sportengland.org/
• BBC Health: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/fitness/