Cash incentive to encourage communities to get active
The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) is encouraging communities from all over Northern Ireland to get active by applying for a cash grant of up to £500 in the Get Active in the Community Cash Grant Awards 2007.
The scheme which is now in its ninth year supports the Northern Ireland Physical Activity Strategy which aims to increase participation in physical activity, especially among those who are sedentary.
Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “Recent research shows that regular exercise can positively promote health, yet 23% of all people aged 16 and over in Northern Ireland can be classed as sedentary.¹ We also know that the majority of people aged 65 plus do no physical activity at all.
“Physical activity can include anything that gets the heart pumping such as brisk walking, climbing the stairs, gardening or housework. Just 30 minutes of moderate activity on five or more days of the week can substantially reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure while at the same time promoting our mental and emotional health.”
The Get Active in the Community Cash Grant Awards have been in existence since 1999 and these small grants have enabled over 1,000 groups to improve health in their local community by encouraging those who take little or no activity at all, to get active.
Dr Gaffney concluded: “To date this has been a very successful initiative and I would encourage community and voluntary groups to apply for an award and help people in their local area enjoy the benefits of being physically active.”
The HPA has distributed forms to 1,225 community and voluntary groups throughout Northern Ireland. Application forms are also available from physical activity coordinators based in the Health and Social Services Boards. Forms can be downloaded from the HPA’s website at:
www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk/Resources/physicalactivity/communitygrants2007.htm
The closing date for applications is Monday 9 April 2007 at 4:00pm. Applications should be sent to the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, designated administrator of the scheme.
END
Notes to the editor:
The initiative is funded by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. It has been developed by the HPA in support of the Northern Ireland Physical Activity Strategy.
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has been commissioned to process and judge all applications.
A sedentary person is someone who has not performed physical activity of at least a moderate level lasting 20 minutes on at least one occasion in the past seven days.
¹ Northern Ireland Health and Wellbeing Survey 2006. NISRA 2007.
For further information contact:
Jenny Dougan at the HPA on Tel: 028 9031 1611.
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