Englands Green Exercise Get Up Get Out Get

England’s Green Exercise Get Up, Get Out, Get Healthy

What the initiative would do. . . • Enable people to become more active in the outdoors to improve their health and well-being. • Focus on: – People who are not so active – and so have most health improvement to gain – Places near to where people live or work – so the activities can be built into their lifestyles rather than be one-off episodes - Working with local communities to identify needs and train volunteers so leave behind a legacy of skills and self-help attitude.

Leading to……. – more people having active, regular contact with the outdoors for all the benefits it can bring.

Walking for Health Cycling for beginners ‘Stealth’ walking’ where people walk to another activity: Mountain biking Kite flying Return to cycling Organised games Night time journeys in the outdoors e. g. pond dipping, wildlife gardening…. Den building/camp fires Bird watching Wild camping Exploring nature Canoeing Orienteering Running …why not some minority interests such as Tai Chi?

England’s Green Exercise is not…. • Active travel – it is leisure based, not utility based (but could influence travel choices) • Competitive sport.

Why Green Exercise? • Evidence shows that physical activity interventions that are not dependent upon attendance at a facility and are on people’s ‘doorsteps’ are more likely to be effective. • Value for money : Low cost as green infrastructure often already in place. • Some programmes have shown that community-based, mentor and volunteer-led initiatives are effective, popular and enjoy high retention rates. • Some programmes have proven to be successful in attracting hard to reach groups and, through effective partnerships at a local level, are sustainable.

Accessible green space and attractive places to walk, act as catalysts for physical activity and as a continuous cue to exercise. They also provide opportunities for social contact and stress reduction. Social Networks Wellbeing Physical and Activity Health Nature

The ethos of England’s Green Exercise. • Fun and enjoyment to motivate and retain participants • Emphasis on people and their participation - not green infrastructure • Focus on people living in areas of poor health and ‘under-served’ groups • Offer a ‘menu’ of activities and partners • ‘Flexible’ so communities can shape it their way • Work with other programmes improving the quality of green spaces and recreation facilities

Who will benefit? • ANYONE who currently takes little or no exercise - to the detriment of their quality of life. e. g. • Teenagers, especially non sporty, disaffected youth, risk of overweight • Families, especially those with health problems (e. g. overweight, poor diet) • Older people, especially those at risk of social isolation or the “not using it and losing” it syndrome. • Those at risk of suffering from mental health problems, depression, low self-esteem, etc. • All focused on people living in areas of poor health

Activity on the ground looks like this…. . Local ‘green exercise’ coordinators working with a range of partners and projects (right skills essential): • Engaging directly with target audiences • Providing opportunities that are either low cost or free to participants • Recruiting and training volunteers/existing adventure providers/physical activity ‘mentors’ • Providing (small scale) equipment • Creating referral links to target groups e. g. via schools, community groups, GPs and Practice Nurses, counsellors • Providing events and activities that meet needs

England’s Green Exercise Outcome - 1 Greater diversity and number of people improving their physical health and mental wellbeing through regular physical activity and contact with the outdoors – 150 new sustainable projects - focussed on communities with relatively poor health – 150, 000 beneficiaries by 2012, of which – 90, 000 are gaining identifiable improvements to their health and wellbeing.

England’s Green Exercise Outcome – 2. People and communities having the right skills, motivation and back up to sustain their improved health beyond the life of this portfolio – Relevant training given to every volunteer – 75% of all participants gaining in self confidence, and encouraging family and friends, to take more activity in the outdoors without ongoing support from formal projects. – A package of on-going support offered to every project to help with sustainability.

England’s Green Exercise Outcome – 3. Increased recognition of the health and wellbeing benefits of the outdoors amongst our target beneficiaries, health professionals and statutory organisations through sharing good practice, evidence and quality standards – Access to learning and good practice for every professional and volunteer through a network of information sharing. – A new quality standard devised to encourage all projects to perform at their best – A strong evidence methodology recognised by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence. – 50% of Primary Care Trusts regularly using the natural environment as part of their solutions to tackling public health issues.

How will projects be delivered? Through National and Local delivery partners: • National delivery partners (sub-contractors) who have specific expertise & experience. • Finding local partners to deliver and develop new concepts which will address local need (grant aid): e. g. – Walking for (mental) health – Adventure experiences for new audiences, young people, families – Informal play within communities using volunteers and mentors

Natural England’s Role -1 • Champion Green Exercise across England – Promote the concept and in particular gain support of the health sector and environmental organisations – Identify and work with partners who can deliver – Offer a range of support services to local delivery partners e. g. training, networks, insurance, website, shared marketing

Natural England’s Role – 2 – Coordinate monitoring and evaluation, share good practice – Get backing of media and private sector to broaden awareness and impact e. g. via campaigns – Set Quality Assurance standards.

Quality Assurance Requirements for local projects Local projects must: • Be targeted accurately at people with health(mental and/or physical) needs • Have good connections with public health professionals • Be both accessible and inclusive • Have well trained staff and volunteers • Able to cultivate relevant local partnerships • Have effective safety procedures • Have monitoring and evaluation in place • Share knowledge and be part of the GE family.

Timing for our bid • Aiming for BIG’s early application route: – First stage submission by 10 th June – BIG advise whether can apply for Stage 2 by end Aug’ 2006 – 2 nd stage submission by 13 October – BIG decision by Dec’ 2006 for projects to start early 2007. • May – Sept we need to: - identify all potential local projects from expressions of interest - determine project selection criteria - select portfolio projects (by 15 th Sept).

How your organisation can get involved? • Submit an Expression of Interest to be an active partner in the delivery of practical projects, focussed on own specialisms or facilities to address local need, – either on own or in conjunction with a complementary organisation. • Recommend your members or supporters to use the services created by the local projects. • Lend us your expertise: e. g. evaluation, communication tools or resources e. g. client /customer information. • Give us your moral support & promote it in your networks.

Further information • Expressions of Interest (EOI) to be submitted to regional Countryside Agency (NE) contacts by Friday 11 August 2006 • Regional team: Please contact either; Lorraine Rasmussen or Martin Shaw at the Countryside Agency on (0191 269 1600)