Our aim
PROVIDE STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP TO SECURE SYSTEM CHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORT ACROSS THE LIFE COURSE, WITH PERSON CENTRED, PREVENTATIVE APPROACHES IN AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM.
Why?
Physical activity can reduce the risk of any death by 30% yet over a quarter (26.8%) of the GM population is inactive and nearly 4 in 10 (39.4%) are not active enough to benefit their health (i.e. not reaching CMO guidelines of 150 minutes a week).
By adopting a life course approach we are supporting and enabling all Greater Manchester residents, regardless of age, ability or personal circumstance, to get moving and incorporate physical activity into their daily routine.
What have we done?
One example of working across the life course is The Daily MileTM. Over the last 12 months GreaterSport has remained wholly committed to the ambition of making Greater Manchester the world’s first Daily Mile City Region.
Highlights of the year;
- In October The Daily Mile Celebration Day saw 100,000 children from 400 Schools walk, jog and run their Daily Mile.
- In January two Daily Mile Coordinators were recruited specifically to increase the uptake of schools implementing The Daily Mile.
- 45% of primary schools (396) are now taking part in The Daily Mile. This is a 22% increase on last year’s figures.
- On the back of the success in Wigan of ‘The Daily Toddle’, The Daily Mile has extended to nurseries across the County with 34 nurseries now signed up.
- In March the ‘Fit For Life’ campaign was launched, it was aimed at getting more businesses to commit to daily workplace walking.
Case Study
“The Daily Mile runs all day. We start it at half past eight in the morning where we open it out to parents. So a lot of our staff are seen at half eight talking to parents; going around The Daily Mile giving English lessons [to parents] that just need a bit of confidence [in speaking English].”
“There aren’t really many differences between nursey and year 6 carrying out The Daily Mile. The minute they enter the pitch, they just run, they’re full of energy and it’s a great way for them to socialise.”
“We’ve seen some real benefits with our children going back to class feeling more energised in themselves, feeling ready to learn, and we’ve seen the engagement in lessons as well, this has really increased”.
Tracey Williams, Stanley Grove Primary School Assistant Head
Further Details
For more information on on our work across the life course please contact matts@greatersport.co.uk.