Residents urged to influence how active cash is spent

Community, Health and Social Care
Simply Walk

Residents are being urged to complete a survey to influence where money should be spent on increasing fun, local opportunities to become more active.

Buckinghamshire County Council aims to improve residents’ health by supporting more people to get more active, more often through a new scheme called ‘Active Bucks’.

£200 of shopping vouchers plus tickets to Milton Keynes Dons FC can be won by taking part in the survey which closes on August 31. The results will help to decide what activities should be funded as part of Active Bucks.

The Council stresses that being active doesn’t have to mean taking up a sport or joining a gym. Any activity which makes you breathe faster and feel warmer – even 10 minute bursts of activities such as gardening and brisk walking – makes a great contribution to daily activity levels, it says.

Martin Phillips, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health, explained: “Too few people are doing enough physical activity to benefit their health. This means they are missing out on all the other benefits being active can bring, such as reducing the risk of diseases including Type 2 Diabetes and some cancers, meeting other local people and improving their general wellbeing.”

Evidence behind being regularly active shows that:

  • 1 in 10 cases of heart disease and stroke can be prevented by persuading inactive people to become more active;
  • There is a three year difference in life expectancy between inactive people and those achieving just 30 minutes of activity a week
  • Activity in later life reduces memory decline by up to 60% and the risk of dementia by up to 30%

Martin Phillips added: “Active Bucks is a really important scheme for the entire county and we want residents to be involved in deciding where we spend their money.

“Make no mistake, if we get this right we will not only improve the health, happiness and wellbeing of our residents, but we will also help save significant amounts of money for the taxpayer by reducing the strain on our health and social care systems.”

To take part in the survey, go to: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/activebucks