fi a update news
‘orphan’ policy era to end
Steven Ward, the
FIA’s public affairs
and policy manager,
reports on health
secretary Andy
Burnham’s vision for
physical activity
T
he good and the great of
the physical activity world
descended on the Leisure
Connection-run Willesden
Sports Centre on 13 August to hear
from health secretary Andy Burnham.
The FIA was delighted to help host
the event, which gave Burnham the
opportunity to set out his vision for Bike for Life is just one campaign Burnham (left) believes can get us fitter
the future of physical activity.
He used the speech to outline the Health Authority, will champion physical so that active lifestyles become universal.
numerous benefi ts of physical activity, activity across the health service. He announced the DH’s ambition to
both on a macro level for government National government will also make the current free swimming offer
and on an individual level. He said: create the framework for an active available across the board.
“Increasing active lifestyles is a simple nation with Walk4Life, Dance4Life, “Free” was a recurring theme of
answer, staring us in the face, to many Bike4Life and Play4Life emerging to Burnham’s speech – his clear passion for
of the big challenges facing our country follow Change4Life and the FIA’s own free swimming has spun into Bike4Life,
today – rising obesity, the ageing society MoreActive4Life activities. Walk4Life and Dance4Life – all things
and sustainable public spending.” Second, there was a call for a new which he believes can be provided for
His message was clear. As a nation, awakening across the NHS to recognise free. He added that “this is the logical
we have no choice but to fundamentally that “active lifestyles are now an way forward” in terms of correcting the
address the fact that the UK is only intrinsic part of 21st century health”. anomaly that you get free treatment on
the 21st most active nation in Europe. This will be typifi ed by the autumn the NHS, but you have to pay to prevent
Burnham set a new target: to move from roll-out of the physical activity care the illness in the fi rst place.
21st place to fourth by 2020. pathway ‘Let’s Get Moving’.
The fi tness sector has a major role time to act
action points to play in supporting this drive across By the time the dusts settles on
He set out a four-point plan to bring his the country. Burnham said that local Burnham’s visionary physical activity
vision into action. First, he pledged to commissioners have “the green light speech, we may or may not have a new
create a new accord across government to [to] be creative and ambitious. Do local party of government. Either way, coming
ensure policymakers lead from the front. deals – for instance with councils, local on the back of the Public Health
The days of physical activity as an gyms and fi tness centres – that open Commission Report, we can be assured
“orphan” policy are over, he said. Under up those opportunities.” He added that physical activity remains a key area
his leadership, physical activity will be that “this is a potentially big change for all three major political parties.
firmly rooted as a priority of the that [will make] some of the welcome However, in order for Burnham’s
Department of Health (DH). experiments in the area of prescribing speech to have true effect, the mindset
Burnham pledged that he was ready exercise become, in time, mainstream of local commissioners needs to change
to make the case across government, prescribing practice.” with the times. It’s time for them to be
working with Olympics minister Tessa Third, Burnham laid the ground for a bold in their actions and strong in their
Jowell and culture secretary Ben quantum shift in social attitudes so that convictions. Working together with
Bradshaw to “spend differently” in the physical activity “starts to resonate as a the fi tness sector and groups in the
pursuit of a more active nation. He clinical need, not just a lifestyle choice”. community promoting dance, walking
also announced that Mike Farrar, chief Finally, the health secretary called for and cycling, we can turn this ambition
executive of the North West Strategic a complete sea change in local provision, into a deliverable reality.
leisureopportunities
is the offi cial recruitment magazine of the fi a
22 Read Health Club Management online september 2009 © cybertrek 2009
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