£300,000 boost to help Derbyshire residents get more active

More than £300,000 in funding is set to help Derbyshire residents become more active.
Funding totalling £312,000 has been approved by Derbyshire County Council to help local residents be more active.Funding totalling £312,000 has been approved by Derbyshire County Council to help local residents be more active.
Funding totalling £312,000 has been approved by Derbyshire County Council to help local residents be more active.

Derbyshire County Council has agreed to award a £312,000 grant to the Active Partners Trust (APT) over a three-year period, until March 2023.

APT oversees the delivery of physical activity programmes across Derbyshire under the Active Derbyshire partnership, which works closely with the council to increase the levels of physical activity among young people and adults.

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Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for health and communities councillor Carol Hart said: “We’re pleased to award this funding and continue our investment in Active Derbyshire to encourage local residents to get more involved in physical activity across the county.

“The benefits of an active lifestyle shouldn’t be underestimated.

"Physical activity can help treat and prevent diseases and improve the health of those with chronic conditions.”

A report by Sport England has found that during the coronavirus crisis there has been a change in attitudes towards physical activity.

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The report highlighted how the government’s guidance around daily exercise had a positive effect with 53 per cent of adults agreeing that they had been encouraged to exercise during the pandemic.

In addition 44 per cent of adults took part in online fitness classes or did their own workouts at home.

Councillor Hart added: “The coronavirus pandemic has created a window of opportunity to engage with our communities and promote the benefits of physical activity.

“Despite rules on social distancing and self-isolation, there appears to be a new appetite for exercise across the country whether that’s walking, cycling or jogging.

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“This new funding can help build on that participation right here in Derbyshire by making use of the fantastic outdoor spaces we have on our doorstep.”

Since February 2018 Active Derbyshire, through council funding, has delivered a number of initiatives including making physical activity and exercise daily practice in Derbyshire schools and encouraging ‘mile-a-day’ type schemes.