04/08/2016 - Permalink

Whitchurch Active Towns projects need your vote

Related topics: Community / Health / Partner organisations

Whitchurch residents are being invited to vote for their top three projects this weekend, as part of a campaign to help increase physical activities for local people, in particular those less active.

The Everybody Active Whitchurch voting event will be held at the Civic Centre Main Hall from 9am until 1pm on Friday 5 August and Saturday 6 August 2016.

Whitchurch had been allocated £30,000 as part Shropshire’s Everybody Active Towns community fund project to help motivate communities to come up with ideas and sustainable projects to improve physical activity within their locality. The campaign invited residents, community groups and organisations in Whitchurch to submit their projects to help increase participation in physical activity in the town.

Twelve projects made it to the final voting event this weekend, and everyone young and old aged 11 and over will have the opportunity to vote for their top three. A list of the projects can be found here.

The event will also ‘have a go’ taster sessions, so you can try out what the projects are offering:

  • Ramped will be bringing along the mobile skate park on Saturday 6 August in the market hall
  • Whitchurch Roller Skating Group will have skaters – showing how adults can have as much fun as children
  • Whitchurch Leisure Centre are bringing a table tennis table
  • Chester Road Bowling Club will be running indoor bowling activities
  • and much more …..

Nicky Young, Shropshire Council’s community enablement officer and Everybody Active Whitchurch lead, said:

“The projects all need your vote.  We have to get a minimum of 350 people to vote for projects to make the voting meaningful, so please come along and vote for the top three projects that you think provide value for money and will get inactive people active.”

As well as these activities, there will be a smoothie bike where people can come along and cycle their way to a fresh fruit smoothie.

Whitchurch Gardener’s Club will be providing refreshments on Saturday. There will also be Giant Connect 4, glitter tattoos and some hula hoops to show your skills – there will be something for everyone.

Local world Taekwondo champion, Jamie Keeling, will be bringing along his team on Saturday at 12 midday to give a demonstration – you will also have a chance to take part too.

Further information about each project can be found here http://www.healthyshropshire.co.uk/topics/physical-activity/everybody-active-towns-project/results/whitchurch/projects-for-voting/.

For more information about Shropshire’s Everybody Active Towns project visit http://www.healthyshropshire.co.uk/topics/physical-activity/everybody-active-towns-project/.

Further information

Physical inactivity can pose serious health risks to the individual and is now one of the key health issues in the UK, responsible for one in six deaths and costing the country an estimated £7.4 billion a year. Those who aren’t active enough risk developing a series of conditions – depression, dementia, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer and more.

Everybody Active Whitchurch is part of Shropshire’s Everybody Active Towns community fund project currently being piloted in in four areas across Shropshire. Other towns include Broseley, Craven Arms and Wem.

Everybody Active Towns has been set up by Shropshire Council’s public health team to help motivate communities to come up with ideas and sustainable projects to improve physical activity within their locality.

The projects can be targeted to any or all ages across the life course, from early years to later life. Proposed projects will compete for funding through a public vote in their town.

The maximum amount available to each of the four communities is £30,000, but will be adjusted according to community response and to ensure a genuine competition can take place. The response to this competitive process will indicate the level of successful community engagement.