Health, Physical Activity & Sport

Policies and Resources

Listed below are website links and downloads for a number of policies and documents that link into health and physical activity agendas.

Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A Cross-Government Strategy for England This cross-government strategy is the first step in a sustained programme to support people to maintain a healthy weight. The ambition is to be the first major nation to reverse the rising tide of obesity and overweight in the population by ensuring that everyone is able to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. The initial focus will be on children: by 2020, the aim is to reduce the proportion of overweight and obese children to 2000 levels. Follow this link to download the Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives (pdf)
Lightening the load: Tackling Overweight and Obesity Toolkit
 A new toolkit jointly published by National Heart Forum, the Faculty of Public Health and the Department of Health is available tackling obesity. To down load a copy of the Lightening the Load tool kit please follow this link (pdf 5mb)
MOVE IT – A Framework for Action on Physical Activity in the South East
 This strategy provides a rationale to be used by agencies to work together to ensure a co-ordinated approach to increasing physical activity across the South East Region within clear targets and time-scales. To download the strategy, click here (pdf)
Physical Activity Resource The purpose of this resource is to help the health sector improve the planning, strategic placement, partnerships, resource commitments and performance management of physical activity.
The resource will also be of interest to local authorities who are working with partners to deliver physical activity. To download a copy of this resource, click here (pdf)
Cycle Kent Guide The Cycle Kent guide highlights some of the best cycle routes in Kent including routes suitable for cyclists of all ages and abilities - to download a copy of the Cycle Kent Guide click here (pdf)
Kent Walks Guide

 The Walk Kent guide includes a series of routes that highlight the diversity of walks you can discover in the county, whether you are a novice or an experienced walker. Walk Kent and enjoy the exhilaration and inspiration of soaring cliff tops, rolling downs, secluded valleys and haunting marshlands - to download a copy of the guide, click here (pdf)
Obesity Mapping Exercise for Kent Through a partnership between Health Promotion and Local Sports Development Officers, a mapping exercise has been carried out to find out what activities are in place across Kent working towards reducing Obesity levels. Click here to see the latest update (Link to word document)
Small Change, Big Difference
The Small change, big difference campaign encourages people to make minor changes in their lifestyles to give them a better chance of living longer, healthier lives.
It is aimed at adults with a message that it is never too late to start, and that even small changes in diet and physical activity can make a difference. www.dh.gov.uk
Sport England’s Policy on Health This policy sets out specific areas in which increased levels of sport and recreation will make a demonstrable difference.
This publication is designed to support individuals and organisations to better understand Sport England’s strategic objectives on health and encourage joint working to deliver a more active and healthy england.
To receive a copy of this publication contact Sport England on 08458 508 508.
Everyday Sport
Everyday Sport logo		 Everyday Sport is designed to increase physical activity, participation in sport and ultimately to improve the health of the nation.
From taking the stairs instead of the lift or getting off the bus a stop early to joining a sports club or registering for an exercise class, Everyday Sport can be fun and easy for everybody to enjoy
To find out more, click here www.everydaysport.com

Think Fit! Campaign
 Think Fit! Is a guide to developing a workplace activity programme, produced by the British Heart Foundation.
To find out more click here www.bhf.org.uk/
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) NICE is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.

NICE produces guidance in three areas of health:

* public health - guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention of ill health for those working in the NHS, local authorities and the wider public and voluntary sector

* health technologies - guidance on the use of new and existing medicines, treatments and procedures within the NHS

* clinical practice - guidance on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions within the NHS.

To find out more about NICE, click here www.nice.org.uk
Walks for All Walks For All leaflets provide guides to accessible routes across Kent.
To find out more, click here Link to KSDU publication section
Dance & Health – the benefits for people of all ages Produced in partnership with the Department of Health and the DCMS this folder outlines the health benefits of dance and provides examples of dance projects in a range of health settings.
To download the folder, click here www.artscouncil.org.uk/
Kent & Medway Healthy Lifestyles Survey  
Active People Survey The primary objective of the Active People Survey is to measure levels of participation in sport and active recreation and its contribution to improving the health of the nation. Sport and active recreation includes walking and cycling for recreation in addition to more traditional formal and informal sports.
To find out more, click here www.activepeoplesurvey.com
Health Profiles for Kent Local Authority Health Profiles are designed to show the health of people in local authorities across England. These cover all but two of the 388 local authorities, including county councils, district councils, unitary councils and London boroughs.
The Health Profiles can be used by local authorities and the health service to highlight the health issues for their local authority area and to compare them with other areas. The profiles are designed to show where there are important problems with health or health inequalities.

To find out the Health Profile for Kent and Local Authorities, click here www.communityhealthprofiles.info
Department of Health (DH) ‘At Least 5 a Week’ – Evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health Although this document is particularly aimed at the NHS, specifically public health and Primary Care Trusts, it is a good source of information for sports professionals as well.
The report sets out the latest research evidence of the benefits of physical activity for health. The document is aimed at those concerned with formulating and implementing policies or programmes that utilise the promotion of physical activity, sport, exercise and active travel to achieve health gain.

To download this document, click here
www.dh.gov.uk/...
British Heart Foundation (BHF) – various physical activity publications The BHF have a range of booklets, videos, CD-Roms, posters and other educational materials. Some booklets are available to download and print out, and are all available to download and print out, and all are available to order online either for free or for a small suggested donation.
To have a look at what is available, click here
www.bhf.org.uk/
Active Woods The Active Woods campaign is aimed at encouraging more people to embrace the great outdoors and improve their health and well-being.
For further information on woodland access and activities in the South East click here www.forestry.gov.uk/
DoH Factsheets
The Department of Health has produced a series of factsheets that form a useful body of knowledge for professionals in the sport and recreation industry. They include: