Active Living/Physical Activity

Our Active Living programme aims to promote physical activity as something people of all ages and abilities can participate in.  WHO’s broad definition of physical activity goes beyond the traditional responsibility for action by traditional sports and leisure sectors and involves sectors that have a remit for education, sport, the built environment, architecture and urban planning, transport, work and employment.

The environment can be a strong determinant for physical activity and effective action within the next four years will include working with urban planners and architects to create environments that make people active as part of their everyday life.

A major aspect of the Active Living concept is tackling obesity, but one of its core messages is that being physically active also improves mental wellbeing. Physical activity can also provide opportunities for social contacts, which in turn support mental wellbeing and can help break isolation. Recent studies show that taking up physical activity can notably improve life expectancy, and that even becoming active in older age has clear health benefits, including reducing the risk of dementia.

Belfast Active Living Group

Belfast Healthy Cities chair the Belfast Active Living Group, which is an intersectoral group co-ordinating work to promote physical activity in the city. We were also instrumental in introducing the concept to Northern Ireland in the late 1990s and setting up the Active Living Group. The work builds on the Active Living concept as promoted by the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.

WHO Healthy Cities plan to launch two reports which relate to Physical Activity/Active living in autumn 2006.  Following this, an overall goal and strategic objectives will be developed for cities within the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.

Active Living Weeks

Currently the main role of the Active Living Group is to oversee the Active Living Weeks. This is a series of four annual weeks highlighting different types of physical activity and offering taster sessions, with the aim of giving people the opportunity to try new activities. The programme has been running since 2000 and increased in popularity year on year. In 2006, the programme is organised over the following dates:

• Week of Swimming, 26 March – 2 April
• Week of Walking, 29 April – 7 May
• Week of Cycling, 17-24 June
• Week of Dance, 9-17 September 2006

The weeks are co-ordinated through Belfast City Council, in partnership with event organisers working throughout the city. The Active Living Group is responsible for strategic development, and also for organising a number of  additional activities during the year.

The work of the Active Living Group is currently funded by the Big Lottery.

Active Living Resources

WHO Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health
http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA57/A57_R17-en.pdf

European Network for the promotion of health enhancing physical activity
A broad based, WHO supported network which aims to promote physical activity by developing strategies, programmes and multi-sectoral approaches for use across Europe.
http://www.euro.who.int/hepa

WHO European Healthy Cities Network – Active Living
The approach to active living promoted by the Network, including links to resources.
http://www.euro.who.int/healthy-cities/UHT/20050806_14

Active Living Research
A site promoting an integrated approach to researching active living, including the impact of the physical environment.
http://www.activelivingresearch.org/index.php/What_is_Active_Living/103

Fifty-Plus Lifelong Fitness
An American association promoting physical activity among people 50 and over.
http://www.50plus.org/aboutus.htm

Choosing Activity – a physical activity action plan (DOH, 2005)
Physical activity plan

Healthyliving.gov.uk
Scottish site providing information and tips on healthy and active living, geared towards the public.
http://www.healthyliving.gov.uk/publications/

A National Physical Activity Strategy (Scottish Executive, 2003)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/Introduction/statframe

Strategic frameworks for promoting physical activity in Wales (Welsh Assembly Government)
http://www.cmo.wales.gov.uk/content/work/physical-activity/index-e.htm

NICE Physical activity resources
http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=300202

A Five Year Physical Activity Strategy and Action Plan – consultative document
This is the draft strategy which was published for consultation in June 2004. A final strategy has not been launched to date.
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/physical_activity_plan.pdf

Belfast Active Living programme
http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/activeliving

Fit Futures
The cross Departmental approach to tackling rising levels of obesity and physical inactivity among children and young people.
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/ifh-fitfutures.pdf

Health Promotion Agency.
Site provides an overview of the HPA approach to promoting physical activity as well as links.
http://www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk