Update on report on obesity Appendix E

Recommendation Update from Sports Development officer, Arts Development Officer, Human Resource Manager, Parks Development Manager, and Head of Community Services. 1. Parks and open • The council has an ongoing improvement spaces in some areas programme for the following parks and open are seen as poorly spaces sites : maintained and unsafe -Goodwood Recreation ground for children. Districts -Callowland Recreation ground should review their -King George V Playing Field policies towards the -River Colne maintenance and This includes refurbishing playgrounds and Mult- facilities of local parks use games areas. with a view to safe use. • The Parks department has 3 Green flag parks which are maintained to a high specification. These are : - Park - Woodside Playing Field - Cheslyn Gardens

• The Parks department has encouraged the community to engage and support the development of their local parks the outcome of this is there are the following Friends groups : - Garston Park - Knutsford Park - Woodside Playing Field - - Harebreaks Woods - park - Meriden Park

• In partnership with the countryside management team a number of healthy walks are provided in our local parks

• In Partnership with the British trust for conservation volunteers, we are able to offer a unique scheme called a green gym in to help people become physically and mentally healthier, in an outdoor environment.

2. District Sports Sports Development : Development Officers should look at ways of • Fit 4 Fun: Due to securing external funding

Item 6 Appendix E Page 1 encouraging more Sports development have been able to informal (non-elite) provide a Fit 4 Fun programme this is a joint sports to counter the initiative with the Primary Care Trust, low numbers of children Watford, Three Rivers and sports “playing out” because of development teams. The Fit 4 Fun parental fears. programme consists of a healthy eating and physical activity programme of 5 weeks to year 4 pupils in primary schools across Watford. The project contributes to raising awareness of the existing rise of overweight /obese/ inactive children. The schools selected are in Watford’s 3 areas of high deprivation, which are Meriden, Holywell and Central. The schools selected in these areas are the schools with the highest proportion of free school meals. The Project is contributing to Watford Health Profile Statistics where it shows that activity levels in children for Watford are significantly worse than England’s average. As well as this, children’s obesity is a significant issue for age 5 to 10 • Herts Youth Games: 10 local authorities of compete in 11 competitive events attracting around 1000 young people, and another 5000 young people that would have taken part in trials and training programmes in the run up to the competition. The games attracts semi-sport young people who would not previously have had the opportunity to participate in a competitive environment. And aims to introduce young people into new sports and link them into clubs to join. The Herts Youth Games is a vehicle to highlight the work of volunteers across the county. • Live Wire: Is ‘Sport Unlimited’ and was re- named in Hertfordshire by the Young people to ‘Livewire’. Livewire is an innovative youth sports programme which cascades funding to local communities via the county sports partnerships network via the districts sports development officers,The target is to provide 3 additional hours in the community to those children classified as ‘Semi Sporty’ – i.e. those that probably only participate in school curriculum P.E. lessons and not much more. Over 2010/2011 there is currently 37 projects providing additional activities for young people in Watford that are not

Item 6 Appendix E Page 2 necessary participating already.It is supporting clubs in providing young people with the opportunity to experience a wider range of sports and a clear pathway in to a club environment, it also provides sports clubs with the chance to promote and deliver their sport further within the local community.Sport Unlimited is playing a key role in delivering a lasting participation legacy from the Games. Sport Unlimited has been awarded the Inspire Mark by London 2012 recognising the impact it is having on young people.

ARTS : • One of our local inclusive theatre groups ran outdoor sessions in Cassiobury Park in the summer for young people 13-19. These are planned to happen again this summer.

3. Partners as Increasing employee awareness of the need to employers should adopt healthy lifestyles by making changes to diet, promote healthy increasing exercise, reducing alcohol consumption lifestyles by their and tobacco products has been supported. employees e.g. it is Focus has been on Men’s health issues - recommended that encouraging earlier screening for potential partners follow the problems such as CVD-cholesterol and prostate PCT’s lead and symptoms. provided pedometers to Women’s health issues -importance of breast self all staff and challenge examination and CVD screening. them to achieve a daily Health awareness days held in conjunction with target for the number of PCT, local businesses, steps taken. students, SLM leisure. Staff offered reduced fees on Council gym membership. Importance of self care by maintaining healthy lifestyles and the positive impact this has maintaining good mental health.

4. District Councils Through the Watford and Three Rivers Health through the Local Partnership (a sub group of both Watford and Strategic Partnerships Three Rivers LSPs) a Task Force has been set up should become to focus activity on partnership work that can familiarised with the support the delivery of activity that will tackle the example of the problems of obesity within our communities. The successful Welwyn and Task Force is developing an action plan that Hatfield District Council encompasses a range of tasks, particularly in event ‘strictly being relation to encouraging physical activity to targeted healthy’. A week long groups and to promote healthy eating and healthy health campaign, lifestyles. One of the actions that has emerged from supported by Welwyn this group, implemented with some targeted Health

Item 6 Appendix E Page 3 and Hatfield LSP, offers Inequalities funding, is the GP referral programme a successful model to referred to in the separate paper on Sports raise awareness of the development. Whilst acknowledging the success of issues around obesity the event this was only a one which could be used week event to raise awareness and the local elsewhere. District partnership are working on a more focussed and Council’s and LSP targeted response to local issues. should consider running similar campaigns in their areas.

What other progress has been made in this area? As part of the Community Safety Partnership, Sports development linked in with the Partnership Protected Area scheme for the Holywell estate and there were 166 information packs sent out to referrals with a variety of the following leaflets: - SLM Central and Woodside centre information, women fit for fun, 50+ activities, woman only swimming, Bollywood, Back to netball, Love to move leaflet etc

In partnership with the PCT Health Bus tour offering people a free health check we were able to link leisure providers to these tours in Watford offering BMI testing and advise with regards to becoming more physically active.

What evidence do you have for this? Spreadsheets of how many responses from the NHS, copy of letter sent, leaflets etc.

What needs to be done to ensure continued improvement? : The impact of public sector funding cuts will impact across all partner agencies and future access to funding to deliver on this agenda is a high risk area. We will continue to monitor the impact during the next financial year through our partnership arrangements and will seek to minimise the impact where possible.

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