Active Bucks, the physical activity programme that helps people in Buckinghamshire become – and stay – more active, has been recognised nationally by the Royal Society for Public Health in their 2018 Health & Wellbeing Awards.
Active Bucks builds on residents’ interests and preferences to develop a portfolio of activities which people truly enjoy, and which often become popular enough to be self-sustaining. Since it began in 2015, over 4,500 people have taken part in Active Bucks, with activities covering an amazing range – from walking, running and swimming to more unusual offerings such as Quidditch games and NERF battles.
Managed by Buckinghamshire County Council’s Public Health Team, Active Bucks has also been well supported by partners across the county, including the NHS, the district councils, and many voluntary sector organisations. The Royal Society for Public Health judging panel, in awarding Active Bucks their Healthier Lifestyles Award, paid tribute to the programme as “an extremely robust, effective and innovatively delivered project.”
Noel Brown, Buckinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Engagement & Public Health, said:
“It’s great news that this flagship Buckinghamshire programme has been recognised nationally by the Royal Society for Public Health for its originality and outstanding quality. This is a testament to the skill and hard work of our Public Health Team and the Active Bucks providers, who have developed and delivered a programme that makes a real difference to the health of local residents.”
At Leap we are delighted that Active Bucks has been recognised by Royal Society of Public Health, we have been a steering group partner and deliverer of Active Bucks programmes since the project’s inception in 2015. Chris Gregory, Senior Sport & Physical Activity Development Manager of Leap said:
“We are proud of the collaborative approach adopted between health, local Government and physical activity providers. We will continue to utilise our position as the strategic lead for physical activity and sport in the county to prepare and support our network to access this investment and maximise its impact on the lives of the least active residents in Buckinghamshire.”
To see the activities that are happening in your local area, visit http://activebucks.co.uk/
For more information about how we work with the health sector to improve the lives of local residents contact Chris Gregory cgregory@leapwithus.org.uk or call 01296 585069