Celebrities on Board to Support Next Phase of 5X60 Scheme

Bitesize

Quarterly newsletter for community food and physical activity initiatives in Wales September 2007

Issue 16 Celebrities on board to support next phase of 5x60 scheme S4C TV presenter Alex Jones joined Rhodri Glyn information on the scheme, video messages and Thomas, the Welsh Assembly Government Minister interviews with its celebrity ambassadors. Former responsible for Sport, at this year’s Royal Welsh Show ‘Stereophonics’ drummer Stuart Cable and his new to launch the latest phase in the Welsh Assembly band ‘Killing for Company’, ‘Dirty Sanchez’, extreme Government’s 5x60 scheme. sports star Matt Pritchard and Paralympic athlete Nathan Stephens have also added their support The initiative, which is designed to encourage young to the scheme. In the future, users will have the people to do at least five 60 minute sessions of physical opportunity to download podcasts, posters, images activity per week, is now using digital technology and and screensavers. celebrity endorsement to attract its target audience. Young people visiting the Royal Welsh who had mobile 5x60 also has a dedicated ‘My Space’ page www. phones with Bluetooth capabilities were given the myspace.com/5xsixty which has been tailored to opportunity to win 5x60 goodies and to download appeal to its youth market. The fully interactive screensavers to their phones. site will include video messages from its new A dedicated website www.5x60.org.uk has been ambassadors and insight into their own positive developed which will host an encyclopaedia of experiences of sport and physical activity.

S4C TV presenter Alex Jones lends support to Welsh Assembly Government 5x60 scheme

1 Workplace Health and Physical activity £2m cash injection into the health of the Welsh workforce In its ongoing attempt to combat the desk potato With a £1m cash injection from the National Lottery trend, the Sports Council Wales is this year set to and Welsh Assembly Government, the Active invest £2m of funding into creating opportunities for Workplace Challenge Fund is set to make up to Welsh businesses to cultivate an all round healthier £10,000 available to organisations with up to 250 workforce. employees and up to £100,000 for businesses with a 250+ strong workforce. For more information contact Funding is available to support active travel plans, to your Sports Council Wales regional office:South East fund Physical Activity Instructors and Coordinators Wales on 0845 045 0902; South West Wales on 0845 and to purchase equipment or create fitness suites 045 0906 or North Wales on 0845 045 0908. and showering facilities.

Wales Centre for Health get on their bikes Wales Centre for Health staff have also been feeling the benefits of using pedal power to get to work and meetings instead of their cars.

Nine bikes have been purchased from local Cardiff shop, The Bike Shed, thanks to a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government Active Lifestyles Fund. Physical Activity Network Co-ordinator, Ann Marie Brackpool says, “Having the bikes is making a huge difference. Sitting behind our desks all day means it’s hard to build physical activity into our daily lives. The bikes have been really popular as they are a brilliant alternative to just sitting behind the wheel of a car and a great way to stay healthy. And the best part – aside from always having room to park – is that we are reducing our carbon footprint.”

For more information contact Ann Marie Brackpool on 029 2022 7744 or AnnMarie. [email protected].

Wales Centre for Health staff still smiling despite being told to get on their bikes

2 Singleton’s Active Travel Project wins plaudits Following the suspension of local bus routes at cycling equipment, cycle storage facilities, cycle Swansea’s Singleton Hospital in 2005 managers saw confidence sessions and provided cyclists and walkers an opportunity to find a healthy alternative to the with free breakfasts and upgraded existing paths to problem by encouraging staff to walk or cycle into provide safe cycling routes. The Active Travel Project work. A survey found that almost 40 per cent of staff was named ‘best walking and cycling project’ at the lived within a four mile radius of work. With advice annual National Transport Awards for Wales in May and a £20,000 grant from the Sports Council, the 2007. The Trust is now looking to build the fitness of NHS Trust refurbished locker rooms to create full staff at other sites over the next three years. changing facilities, set up a bicycle pool; purchased

Pembrokeshire LHB Staff Wellbeing Programme Pembrokeshire Local Health Board (LHB) has come up with some innovative ideas to encourage physical activity amongst their staff. The Staff Wellbeing Programme started in April 2006 as part of the LHB’s work towards the Corporate Health Standard.

Through ongoing fitness and health checks, individuals have the opportunity to establish their current level of health and discuss options for making positive lifestyle changes. Related activities taking place within the organisation are also explained to help to motivate staff to take their first steps towards a healthier lifestyle.

Helen Stewart, Staff Wellbeing Programme Pembrokeshire Coordinator says, “The fitness and health checks Staff Wellbeing are definitely the catalyst to engaging individuals Programme into a healthier lifestyle. There is an emphasis on the social benefits of physical activity to encourage participation”.

Activities organised by the LHB include rowing coaching sessions, pilates, tai chi and a walk to run programme, where staff meet after work to follow an easy 12 week programme which enables them to Information is provided through posters and run for 30 minutes at the end. Activities are run at motivating emails are sent to remind people what’s different times of the day, before work, after work happening and to encourage participation. The LHB and at lunchtime, to fit into people’s available time. allows staff to undertake certain activities such as health checks and therapies during their working day As a result of the programme several members of and subsidises the cost. staff and their families have joined local rowing clubs and completed the Great River Race, a 22 mile race For more information email Helen Stewart, Staff held annually on the Thames. The walk to run group Wellbeing Programme Coordinator at Helen. have just progressed to a 10k programme which will [email protected]. enable them to run a 10k race in October and one member of staff successfully completed the London marathon after making a commitment to improve his lifestyle.

3 Award Winners

Food Standards Agency Wales AFAL Awards 2007

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) Wales again recognised projects from across Wales through the AFAL Award Scheme at its recent nutrition conferences. Launched in 2003, the Award recognises individual or team contributions to local nutrition initiatives that have made a positive impact on the diet or eating habits in the communities they serve.

The following winners were awarded £2000 and a celebratory fruit bowl:

Riverside Community Food Cooperative, Cardiff aims to offer affordable and easily obtained fresh fruit and vegetables to local residents, increasing North Wales winners and runners up (pictured with awareness of healthy eating and overcoming some of Phil Morgan, FSA Wales’ Assistant Director, and the barriers that prevent individuals and families from Rob Pickard, Chair of the Welsh Food Advisory meeting the ‘five a day’ target. Committee)

Cardiac Cooking Companion Project, Wrexham Flintshire Breast-feeding Peer Support Programme created a cookbook to raise greater awareness of the aims to promote breastfeeding as the normal way principles of healthy eating and to provide affordable to feed an infant, especially in the cultural groups easy to prepare recipes suitable for cardiac patients where breastfeeding is not the norm, to reduce health and their families. inequalities for those babies and mothers. Volunteer mothers are trained to become breastfeeding peers The Nutrition and Health Team, Alive and Ticking who work from a variety of premises including Project, Neath Port Talbot, created a pictorial hospitals and the homes of breastfeeding mothers. cookbook for communities with low levels of literacy or for people for whom English is not their first language. The aim of the cookbook is to increase confidence among these groups in cooking healthy balanced meals while also promoting greater consumption of fruit and vegetables.

Ponthafren’s Physical Fun and Fine Food Project aims to increase physical activity and cooking skills for people with mental health difficulties who live in an isolated community. The project has set up an organic garden which is cared for by members, provides cooking classes and has developed, produced and marketed a recipe book containing nutritional advice. South Wales winners and runners up

4 A further five projects were awarded as runners up and were presented with £1000 and a celebratory fruit bowl: Rhyl Football Club Healthy Eating Scheme aims Get Up and Grow, Monmouthshire Youth Service to encourage children to eat healthier diets and live aims to broaden the curriculum so that young people more active lives. Children are invited into the club can engage in activities in a rural setting and connect for a tour of the ground and dressing rooms and with their environment. The project also helps receive information about how the players prepare for local schools and youth clubs to establish their own matches and their diet and exercise routines. gardens.

Kitchens of Cardiff aims to understand different Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Healthy cultures and communities in Cardiff through Options Award Scheme uses encouragement and research and learn to cook healthy and traditional education to target premises serving food to the food from different cultures. A cultural cookbook public. The project assists people in the catering has been created for young people who are moving industry to provide healthy foods from clean into independent living to help them create exciting establishments in a healthy environment. To receive healthy and cheap meals. the award premises must in addition to providing healthy options on the menu, be in receipt of a The Women’s Institute (WI) Get Cooking Project bronze, silver or gold Welsh Food Hygiene Award. involves WI members from seven federations in Wales working in partnership with organisations The Agency will launch its 2008 AFAL Awards on who work with and support young people. They Friday 5th October with a closing date of Friday organise practical classes in basic food preparation 7th December. Categories, initiatives and target and cooking for small groups of young people over a groups will remain the same as last year. For more six week period. information visit The Food Standards Agency website www.food.gov.uk/wales.

Active Kids Get Cooking Connah’s Quay winner Connah’s Quay High in Flintshire Undy Primary School in Monmouth was also named beat competitors from England, the overall primary school winner with its beef Scotland and Northern Ireland to pick koftas with tzatiki dip and chickpea and mint. Ysgol up the award of secondary school Y Wern, Cardiff was also one of four schools given UK champion in the ‘Active Kids Get judges’ commendation awards. For more information Cooking Challenge’. visit the British Nutrition Foundation website www.nutrition.org.uk. The Challenge, a partnership between Sainsbury’s, the British Nutrition Foundation and The Design and Technology Association, is a competition to find the most inventive and nutritious dishes created by school children throughout the UK.

Luke Thomas, a Year 8 pupil from Connah’s Quay High School wowed with his Italian Chicken Stew with Tagliatelli, a dish he designed to feature on the school canteen menu after trialling it with friends and teachers. He received a cheque for £500 for his school and a goodie bag.

Luke is now running an after school cookery club for fellow year 8 pupils and teachers who are keen to ‘try something different’. He also took his recipe to the Royal Welsh Show where he demonstrated how to Connah’s Quay High School winner Luke Thomas make the dish. enjoys the taste of success with TV chef Jamie Oliver

5 Green Heroes make their mark His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh presented winners of the BTCV ‘Green Heroes’ awards at a special ceremony at St James’s Palace on 15 May. The winners of the Green Heroes award were chosen from nominated volunteers, community groups and partner organisations. Winners received a framed certificate signed by the Duke of Edinburgh plus £250 of BTCV vouchers for individuals and a £500 project bursary for groups. Michael Rake receives award from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh The Blaenau Gwent Green Gym in Abertillery won Green Heroes deserve recognition for the outstanding the BTCV Green Gym of the Year award jointly contribution they make to their local environment with the Derwent Green Gym Derby. Most of and community, often overcoming considerable the regular and very committed volunteers at the personal or environmental challenges to do so. Their Blaenau Gwent Green Gym have a variety of physical achievements will inspire new volunteers and show disabilities. They work hard, supporting one another we can all make a difference to the places we live in.” and successfully completing projects as a team. The activities the volunteers take part in have raised their For more information about the winners, contact confidence and skill levels and some members have Helen Mitchell, BTCV Press & PR Manager on participated in the Green Gym training course. 01491 821612 or [email protected] or to find out what’s on in your local area go to the BTCV Tom Flood, Chief Executive of BTCV, said, “Our website www.btcv.org.

Food for Thought Building on Pedal Power Project’s success The Pedal Power Project moved into its new headquarters in Pontcanna Caravan Park, Cardiff on 21 September. The Pedal Power Project is a local registered charity whose aim is to make cycling available to all in and around Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Pedal Power staff and volunteers The project has been run from old sheds and an pictured outside even older caravan to date, but can now enjoy a state new HQ of the art site thanks to funding from the National organisation will need more volunteers to help staff Lottery and Cardiff Council. It will also mean that the building and support the project so please contact it can expand its operations and add a professional Nigel Baker on 07775 616411 or 02920 390713 if you edge to its work. As a result of this expansion the can help.

6 Food and Fitness in Bridgend Over 120 primary and secondary school pupils, were offered by the Heart of the Community Project their teachers and members of the local community and Bridgend County Borough Council Sports participated in a unique Food and Fitness Event Development. held at Ynysawdre Comprehensive School, Bridgend in July. The event was organised thanks to a joint Heart of the Community aims to reduce the application by the Heart of the Community Project incidence of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) by and Bridgend County Borough Council Sport promoting lifestyle changes, through a number Development to Focus on Food. of projects, in the Ogmore and Garw Valleys. It is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government’s The aim of the event was to encourage those Inequalities in Health Fund and is a joint partnership participating to develop life-long habits through between Bridgend Local Health Board, Bro the maintenance of a healthy balanced diet and Morgannwg NHS Trust and the National Public by becoming physically active. The Focus on Food Health Service. For more information contact the Cooking Bus supported by the Welsh Assembly Heart of the Community Project on 01656 843220 or Government provided cooking and physical activity email [email protected]. workshops, and other information and activities H.E.A.R.T of Ty Sign Food Mapping Project Caerphilly Local Public Health Team was Ty-Sign community. The four actions that were high approached by the Ty-Sign Non Communities priorities for the residents and the ‘Reference Group’, First Partnership asking for support to set up local which were also perceived to have a high impact in initiatives to address perceived food and health issues Ty Sign were: cookery classes with involvement, a in the area. Through a form of needs assessment fruit and vegetable co-operative, a community café called Community Assessment and Action (CAA), and more frequent buses to the shops. These findings participatory research techniques were used to along with the other actions in the residents’ action identify the full scope of food and health issues in the plan will guide future work in Ty Sign. area. The report outlines how the whole process has been The aims of the project were in the short term beneficial as any new initiatives that are established to identify factors affecting food choice in the based on this report should have the support of the community of Ty-Sign, in the medium term to community and hence be more successful. For more produce and implement an action plan to tackle information contact Caerphilly Local Public Health the issues identified by the local community and in Team on 01495 241200. the long term to improve the health of residents of

Ystalyfera Health and Well Being Centre on road to development Funding has been secured to refurbish and extend the include a training kitchen to learn about nutrition, building which will house the Ystalyfera Health and a health suite including cardio-vascular equipment, Well Being Centre. The Centre has been successful light exercise classes such as yoga, tai chi and dance is securing £375,000 Objective 1 European funding classes, and meeting rooms to provide one to one £125,000 from the Local Regeneration Fund and consultations and holistic therapies. £99,960 from the Welsh Assembly Government Community Facilities and Activities Programme. Funding has also been secured from the Community Work started this summer and should be completed First Trust Fund and the Aggregates Levy Sustainable by March 2008. Grant, which will contribute towards various costs of the project, such as equipment, website and auditing The Centre will act as a vehicle for promoting, costs. For further information contact Sally Richards fostering and enhancing a sense of community on 01639 645921. spirit. The proposed services and activities will

7 An action packed summer for south west Rhyl youngsters

Aged between 11 and 16, 34 youngsters got involved in an array of sports from basketball, football and dodge ball to aerobics, hip-hop and street dance sessions. Those who were interested in golf were given an extra incentive to take a swing, they received a year’s free membership at a local club, providing they passed a golf module after a week of practicing. Others took to the slopes to learn how to ski.

South West Rhyl Communities First, which is partnered by The Co-operative Group, encourages local people to make positive changes in their community for the benefit of all the residents. The team helped members from the Marsh Youth Group organise the events over the summer months.

Marsh Youth Group chairperson Heaven Neapsey says, “We realise the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle including having a good diet and keeping active, which is why we organised such a wide range Rhyl young people avoid summer holiday boredom of activities that would ensure there was something with range of new activities for everyone. We all really enjoyed the summer holidays and had a lot of fun taking part in new It was an action packed summer for young people sports. We hope to continue running these activities from Rhyl who were on a quest to get fit and healthy. and that more people our age will get involved.” Youngsters from the Marsh Youth Group, which is supported by the South West Rhyl Communities For more information contact Emma Osborne, First team, received a Food and Fitness grant from Community Development Worker, South West Rhyl the Welsh Assembly Government to run a series of Communities First on 07738135012 or email sporting activities and healthy eating sessions over the [email protected]. summer months.

Cymru Cooks The first Cymru Cooks training and awareness raising In addition to the bespoke cookery club resource, the sessions took place in June 2007. This two-year project will include the development and delivery of project is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government awareness raising and training sessions in all Local as part of the five-year implementation plan, Food Education Authority areas over the two-year period. and Fitness -Promoting Healthy Eating and Physical There will be website support, including a register for Activity for Children and Young People in Wales. cookery clubs and networking opportunities and an impact evaluation will be carried out in partnership ContinYou Cymru will be producing a bespoke cookery with North East Wales Institute (NEWI). club resource to help all those wanting to set up clubs Events during summer 2007 took place in for children and young people, from the foundation Pembrokeshire and the Vale of Glamorgan. The to secondary school age. It will include community evaluation and feedback at the end of the sessions involvement and will link to Welsh Network of Healthy was very positive. For further information about Schools Scheme and Health Challenge Wales, as well the programme email Angela Treadwell at angela. as sport, PE and fitness and other curriculum areas. It [email protected]. will make use of existing materials and resources from within and outside Wales.

8 Brushing up in Carmarthenshire Schoolchildren in Carmarthenshire are brushing their pearly whites as part of a new pilot scheme. 16 school breakfast clubs from across the county are taking part in the scheme, which involves children aged 3 to 11 being given their own toothbrushes so they can brush their teeth when they arrive at school. The brushes are then stored in a hygienic, purpose built toy bus. It is hoped the project will help foster good dental hygiene habits from an early age. For more information contact Rhys Thomas, Press Officer Carmarthenshire Ysgol Y Castell Kidwelly 8 year old Pupils Nicholas Rhodes & Jemma County Council on 01267 224007. Bartlett show how to clean their teeth

Sports Council members take up the Anglesey walk challenge Members of Sports Council Wales met in Anglesey for their June bi-monthly meeting, but prolonged their visit to tie their trainers and take part in the seven-mile walk. Keen to demonstrate that they practice what they preach; members of the Council completed a seven mile tour of Anglesey as part of the Ynys Mon Group of the Ramblers Association’s walk from Cemlyn to Church Bay. For further information about walks in your area visit the Ramblers Association website on www.ramblers.org.uk. Members of Sports Council Wales lead by example in Anglesey

Welsh Assembly Government team enjoy 10K Bupa Great Wales Run Martyn Gray, who works in the Health Improvement Division of the Welsh Assembly Government, donned his running shoes once more on 29 July to take part in the Inaugural 10K Great Wales Run in Cardiff Bay organised by Nova International.

Welsh Assembly Government’s Martyn Gray shows off his medal after 10K run

9 Noticeboard Help shape the way forward for Food in Wales As individuals and organisations involved in setting affordable prices; up and running a variety of healthy eating initiatives, • Support a strong and diverse Welsh food industry; you have already played a vital role in helping • Support all cultures in healthy eating. improve people’s health. The Welsh Assembly Government is now taking the next step in developing Please let us know your comments on how we can a national strategy to make it possible for everybody improve the quality of food in Wales. You may find it in Wales to have access to quality food that is healthy, useful to consider: affordable and produced in a sustainable way. They • Where can you buy healthy and sustainable food want to get your feedback and comments on the now? proposed plans to create a quality of food strategy • Which places do you believe need to improve the that will change the way we produce, supply, market quality of their food? and ultimately consume food in Wales. • How easy is it to choose healthy options at cafes, workplaces etc? The aim of the strategy is to: • Is there currently enough information to help you • Help everybody to eat a balanced diet and choose healthy and sustainable food? maintain a healthy weight; • What influences your choice of food? • Produce food in a environmentally sustainable way; Please post your responses to: The Welsh Food • Respect the needs and rights of all people involved Debate, Freepost, NAT8910, Welsh Assembly in food production; Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3BR or • Make quality food available for everybody at email [email protected].

Community Food Elsewhere in the UK Co-operative Programme UK Liaison Event: Communities, The Community Food Co-operative Programme Families and the under 5’s includes all areas of Wales. The contact details for Sustain’s Food Access Network received funding the Food Development Workers are as follows: from the Food Standards Agency to run a UK Liaison June Jones (North-Wales) 01766 890637 / Project to bring together initiatives from across the 07717 202215 UK and Republic of Ireland, in a series of events, to Deborah Neale (North-East Wales) 01978 851581 share information and good practice. Jenni Moorhouse (Mid-Wales) 07918 715719 Maria Davies (West-Wales) 01269 823888 / The second of this year’s four events took place 07918 715720 in Glasgow in June and focused on how food and Hannah James (South-East Wales) 029 2023 2943 health policy is influencing community food work / 07717 205438 with the under 5’s. There were presentations from Richard Reast (South-West Wales) 07918 715718 the National Network staff on the relevant policies from each country, followed by six workshops North Wales New Starter from practitioners working in the field. Charlotte Edwards and Lynette Thomas, based in the Vale Dyserth, Denbighshire community food co-operative of Glamorgan, gave a presentation on the Food for got off to a great start in June with customers flocking Thought Project, which aims to give children an to order their bags of fruit, vegetables and salad. The overview of where food comes from, how the farmer co-op is run out of Paterson Hall in Horeb Church produces food and how to make healthy choices. For every Wednesday between 11.00am and 12.30pm. On more information and to access the presentations visit July 24 Ann Jones, AM visited and was very impressed the Sustain website www.sustainweb.org or email with its size and efficiency. For more information Lisa Wilson on [email protected]. contact Rev. David Salsbury on 01745 571591.

10 Resources Cooking in the Community Virtual Recipe Collection Guide to Community The Nutrition Network for Wales asked its partners to contribute healthy eating recipes and adapted Food Activities healthier recipes for the production of a recipe ‘How to….A Guide to Community Food Activities’, collection resource. The virtual recipe collection is developed by Swansea Food Connections, is a series now available on the Nutrition Network for Wales of guides to growing, buying, cooking and eating, website www.nutritionnetworkwales.org.uk. to help people to set up their own community food activities. The guides are easy to use, fun This resource can be used by community food and colourful and provide advice and guidance initiatives as a source of nutritionally balanced on a whole range of local food activities including recipes, to raise awareness of healthy eating and allotments, cookery activities, community cafes and support the community to develop their cooking luncheon clubs. The guides are also a rich source skills and assist positive dietary change. It showcases of local and national useful contacts. For more the work being undertaken in Wales by community information contact Swansea Public Health Team on food initiatives and other partners whilst sharing telephone number 01792 784858. good practice and supporting the success of the initiatives. Directory of Training and If you would like to share your healthy recipes with Education in Nutrition others contact Beth Preece, Nutrition Network for The Wales Centre for Health has produced a Wales Project Support Officer on 02920 227744 or Directory of Training and Education Courses email [email protected]. and Programmes in Nutrition for Public Health Practitioners in Wales. It contains over 80 courses from community level The Year of Food and to postgraduate level and courses are also listed by Farming Resources region. The Directory, aims to assist practitioners To accompany the Year of Food and Farming, which in sourcing, locating and identifying training runs from September 2007 to July 2008in England, the opportunities. British Nutrition Foundation will launch a new section For more information contact Kelly Mason, Project on its website www.foodafactoflife.org.uk offering Support Officer on 029 2022 7744 or email Kelly. lesson ideas, resources and interactive activities. For [email protected]. more information on the Year of Food and Farming visit www.yearoffoodandfarming.org.uk. Training and Conferences Planning for Health Complex Challenges; National Nutrition Education Conference, Practical Solutions, 7 November 2007, 3 November, the Copthorne Hotel, North East Wales Institute for Higher Cardiff and 1 December, the St George’s Education (NEWI), Wrexham Hotel, Llandudno The event aims to develop the knowledge of To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the British professionals as to the environmental factors involved Nutrition Foundation their National Nutrition and in encouraging physical activity and healthy eating, Education Conference is going on tour. These regional to share good practice, and to encourage more conferences are planned to update teachers on current developments that take into account food access and nutrition issues, the latest food in schools news and physical activity in their design. developments in classroom resources. For further Please register by 26 October 2007. For more information visit the British Nutrition Foundation information visit the Wales Centre for Health website website www.nutrition.org.uk/conferences or contact www.wch.wales.nhs.uk or contact Hazel Cryer, Donna Baker on email [email protected] or Project Support Officeron 029 20227744. telephone 020 7404 6504.

11 Funding The Way of Life Programme Health Challenge Wales Voluntary The Way of Life Programme is part of the Big Lottery Fund Healthy Families initiative. It promotes healthy Sector Grant Scheme 2008 The Health Challenge Wales Voluntary Sector Grant and active lifestyles among children and families Scheme exists to strengthen sustainable public health by creating a joined up approach to children’s play, improvement in Wales. Applications are open for the healthy eating and physical activity. The Way of Life 2008 round of the scheme. Four to six partnership Programme opened for applications on 11 June 2007. bids will be commissioned which respond to Health The initiative supports voluntary, community or public Challenge Wales key priorities. The closing date for sector organisations working individually or as part of applications is 31 October 2007. For more information a Health Social Care and Wellbeing Partnership with telephone 029 2082 6720 or email grants between £250,000 and £500,000. The deadline [email protected]. for applications is 16 November 2007. For more information visit the Big Lottery Fund Website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk. WCVA Communities First Trust Fund Communities First Trust Fund is the first major initiative of the Communities First Support Network, funded by Let’s Walk Wales Round 2 The Welsh Assembly Government and administered Building on the success of its ‘Walking the Way to by WCVA. The scheme supports any type of activity Health’ model, the Sports Council Wales is challenging that involves local people, through small community organisations to develop a walking-based programme organisations, that benefits their community. The which builds on the previous initiative. The closing activities must provide some measure of economic, date for round two of the Let’s Walk Wales Grant is environmental, social or cultural benefit for people living 5 November. For more information contact Shana in a Communities First area and provides grants up to Thomas, Senior Officer for Walking, Sports Council £5,000. Applications must be received by 31 January Wales on 029 2033 8335 / 08450 450906 or email 2008. For more information telephone 0800 587 8898 [email protected] or visit or email [email protected] or visit the www.sports-council-wales.org.uk. WCVA website www.wcva.org.uk. Diary dates December 1 National Nutrition Education Conference October The St George’s Hotel, Llandudno 1-31 International Walk to School Month www.walktoschool.org.uk 6 British Nutrition Foundation 40th Anniversary Conference Food and Fitness for 16-20 Healthy Breakfast Week Life, Society of Medicine, London 9 Cardiff Santa Dash (Wales Events Office 0800 November 783 6970 or [email protected]) 3 National Nutrition Education Conference, the Copthorne Hotel, Cardiff Please send your contributions for future issues 6-7 Diabetes UK Roadshow, Churchill Way, of Bitesize to Beth Preece at the Wales Centre for Cardiff Health, 14 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LJ or email [email protected]. 7 Planning for Health Complex Challenges; Practical Solutions, North East Wales The Wales Centre for Health is responsible for Institute for Higher Education (NEWI), producing and distributing the Bitesize newsletter Wrexham but has outsourced the distribution of the Newsletter 14 World Diabetes day to Research and Marketing Limited. If you are www.worlddiabetesday.org not happy for your contact details to be passed to Research and Marketing Limited for the distribution 23-24 8 th National Nutrition and Health of the Bitesize newsletter please contact the Wales Conference, Olympia Conference Centre, Centre for Health at 14 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, London CF11 9LJ or telephone 029 2022 7744.