INFORMATION RESOURCES ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
< Introduction | Regional policy context >
National policy context
Game Plan: a strategy for delivering Government’s sport & physical activity objectives (2002)
In December 2001 the Strategy Unit and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport were commissioned by the Prime Minister to produce a study examining long-term sports policy. The ultimate aim of the report was to refine Government objectives for sport and physical activity and identify ways of improving the delivery of Government support.
The report covers a number of topics including the current position of sport, why the government should invest in sport and physical activity, a 20 year vision for sport and physical activity, increasing participation and enhancing international success. It concludes that the Government can best add value by setting itself two objectives: firstly to increase participation in sport and physical activity (on the basis of the associated significant health benefits), and secondly to improve success at international competition. Recommendations to achieve these objectives were split into four domains:
- Grass roots participation – reduce barriers to sport and physical activity
- High performance sport – prioritization of sports that are funded at the highest level, talent development programmes, more focused on customer needs
- Mega sporting events – a more cautious approach to hosting events with a set process for Government involvement
- Delivery – organizational reform and a determination of what is actually needed before further state investment in sport. Less money on bureaucracy and more on the end user. Partnership working.
Choosing Health (2004)
Choosing Health sets out how the government will work in partnership with a variety of organisations to promote physical activity. It makes the link between increasing physical activity and improving health; especially tackling obesity and the associated health risks. The document describes the government’s aims to remove real and perceived barriers to physical activity, such as reducing the cost of participating in sport, improving access to high quality green spaces, encouraging cycling and walking as a mode of transport.
Choosing activity: a physical activity action plan (2005)
Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan sets out Government’s plans to encourage and co-ordinate the action of a range of departments and organisations to promote increased participation in physical activity across England. It is a summary of how we will deliver the commitments on physical activity presented in the public health white paper Choosing Health: making healthier choices easier. It brings together all the commitments relating to physical activity in Choosing Health as well as other action across government, which will contribute to increasing levels of physical activity. These include school PE and sport and local action to encourage activity through sport, transport plans, the use of green spaces and by the NHS providing advice to individuals on increasing activity through the use of pedometers.
Delivering Choosing Health (2005)
The Delivering Choosing Health delivery plan highlights how the Department of Health and the NHS, within the framework of government policies, will help more people make more healthy choices and reduce health inequalities. It outlines the priorities for delivery at national, regional and local levels and what will be done by whom and when. It brings into one place all of the actions on the White Paper commitments, alongside related Public Service Agreements and local targets to improve health. It describes how Government will drive forward delivery through:
- Government targets to improve health
- New partnerships between industry, the voluntary sector and professional groups
- New services delivered by local authorities and the NHS
Pages 26-28 of the document set out Priority C: Tackling Obesity, including physical activity as a means of reducing the prevalence of obesity
Pages 35-38 set out Priority G: Helping Children & Young People to Lead Healthy Lives, including plans to increase sporting opportunities for young people
Pages 39-40 set out Priority H: Promoting Healthy & Active Life Amongst Older People
Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction for Community Services (2006)
The White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction for Community Services, published in January 2006, set a new direction for the health and social care system. It confirms the vision set out in the Department of Health Green Paper, Independence, Well-being and Choice and proposes there will be a shift in the way in which services are delivered, ensuring that they are more personalised and fit into people's busy lives. It explains in detail the improvements the Government is going to make to health and social care services, why it feels these changes are necessary and the steps it is taking to make sure they happen.
The White Paper aims to achieve four main goals:
- better prevention services with earlier intervention
- people to have more choice and a louder voice
- more to be done to tackle inequalities and improve access to community services
- more support for people with long-term needs
Physical activity is mentioned in Chapter 2 ‘Helping people look after their own health and wellbeing’, tying in with Government targets to reduce obesity and improve mental health. It is also part of Chapter 3 ‘Shifting the system towards prevention’ and Chapter 4 ‘Social prescribing’ describes new additions to the NHS such as exercise referral schemes.
Be active, be healthy: a plan for getting the nation moving (2009)
Be active, be healthy establishes a new framework for the delivery of physical activity alongside sport for the period leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and beyond. Programmes outlined in the plan will contribute to Government’s ambition of getting 2 million more people active by 2012 and have been designed to leave a lasting legacy from the Games.
< Introduction | Regional policy context >
PAGE CREATED: 1 April 2007 | PAGE REVISED: 30 September 2009