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Local community groups encouraged to get a life,
get active
Get a life, get active - that’s the
message from the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland
(HPA) today
as it launches the 2005 Get Active in the Community Cash
Grant Awards.
A television advertising campaign will go on air today to
publicise the scheme and encourage local groups to apply
for a community grant award to help increase physical activity
levels of the people in their area.
Physical inactivity is a serious and increasing public health
problem. Seven out of 10 adults in Northern Ireland do not
engage in the recommended level of physical activity and
one quarter are physically inactive or sedentary1. For general
health benefits, adults should achieve at least 30 minutes
of physical activity a day on five or more days in the week.
Dr Paula Kilbane, Chair of the Northern Ireland
Physical Activity Strategy Implementation Group (NIPAIG),
said: “Current
lifestyle trends have led to a largely inactive society.
This has potentially serious consequences for our health,
placing us at risk of developing coronary heart disease,
Type 2 diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. Schemes
such as the Get Active in the Community Cash Grant Awards
are essential in getting groups together in the local community
and encouraging those who are largely sedentary to get active.
“Being active, even for short periods,
can provide health benefits to everyone, regardless of
age, weight, health
condition or disability.”
Linda Barclay, Director of Programme Development
at the HP A said: “The scheme has been very successful
in the past and is now in its seventh year. Since it was
launched
it
has helped over 750 groups to improve health in their local
communities through physical activity. Last year over 600
applications were received and more than a quarter were awarded
funding.
“These small grants provide financial
support to community and voluntary groups to enable them
to develop initiatives
targeted at those who may otherwise engage in little or no
physical activity. The enthusiasm and effort of local groups
continues to be effective in the drive to achieve a more
physically active, healthier population.”
The Get Active in the Community Cash Grant
scheme aims to enable local groups to provide physical
activity opportunities
in their communities and to raise awareness of the importance
and benefits of being regularly, moderately physically active.
Groups may apply for cash grants up to the value of £500
to support their projects by contacting
0845 601 22 77.
The television advertisement will run from Tuesday 1 March
to Friday 18 March 2005 and the closing date for applications
is 4.00pm on Thursday 24 March 2005.
END
Notes
to the editor
- Linda Barclay will be available for interview
today between 2.30pm – 4.30pm. The television advertisement
can be viewed at the Health Promotion Agency, 18 Ormeau
Avenue,
Belfast during this time.
- This initiative is funded by the
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
and has been developed
by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland
in support of the Northern Ireland Physical Activity Strategy.
The strategy aims to increase participation in physical
activity, especially by those who are currently sedentary.
- The ‘Get a life, get active’ campaign
was first launched in 1999 to provide the public with
positive
and motivational messages about the health benefits
that can be obtained from becoming more physically
active.
The campaign includes television advertisements, leaflets
and posters. Further information on the campaign can
be accessed here.
For
further information contact
Rosie McGaughey on 028 9031 1611 or 9031 1514.
1.Northern
Ireland Health & Wellbeing Survey 2001, NISRA 2002.
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