ASA LAUNCHES SWIMMING FOR HEALTH IN HULL
The Amateur Swimming Association is about to launch a pioneering
scheme that aims to increase the physical activity and well-being
of residents in Hull and East Riding.
The pilot programme, which plans to reduce health inequalities
in Hull through the development of a sustainable swimming
initiative, has been funded by a Department of Health Section
64 grant which totals £247,000 over the next three years.
The 'Swimming for Health' scheme aims to increase physical
activity through a campaign that highlights simple ways to
build exercise into everyday life, and will focus on three
key groups: local employees, residents over 55 and young people
and families.
Planned projects include partnerships with local companies
to allow staff to take a weekly 90-minute break to go swimming,
GP referrals to personal swimming programmes and joint initiatives
with organisations such as Sure Start, a government programme
to deliver the best start in life for every child.
The scheme ties in with the Government's 2004 'Choosing Health'
white paper, which highlighted the need to increase exercise
and reduce obesity. Of particular importance is the need to
reduce the occurrence of coronary heart disease, which is
an area that swimming can have a positive impact.
Predicted benefits of the programme include a reduction in
job absences through an improvement of employee health and
an increased awareness of the benefits of a more active and
healthy lifestyle.
Minister for Public Health, Caroline Flint said:
"We are delighted to be working in partnership with
the ASA on this project to raise activity in Hull. We believe
that this will provide valuable experience for us to encourage
others to promote similar initiatives in their area.
"Swimming is one of the activities that can make a massive
impact on the activity targets of the Government and the ASA
has been helping us shape our strategy in swimming and this
is a further initiative in that strategy."
ASA Chief Executive David Sparkes said:
"The ASA is delighted to work with the Department of
Health on this important project in Hull, which will establish
swimming at the heart of the City's activity agenda."
The scheme will be run by a Hull Swim for Health Development
Manager who will be responsible for its implementation.
The ASA aims to establish Hull & East Riding as a template
for other health and local authorities and establish the link
between a healthy lifestyle and swimming in the eye of the
public.
Long-term, the ASA hopes to roll out the scheme nationwide
and is in the process of sourcing funding streams for this
implementation.
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