Commit to getting more active

Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 15 December 2006

The results of a national telephone survey commissioned by Sport England between October 2005 and October 2006 show that 20.8% of Bury’s adults participate in sport and active recreation. 

Sport and recreation includes walking and cycling for recreation in addition to the more traditional formal and informal sports.

The survey targeted 1,000 Bury residents aged 16 and over and measured participation in different types of activity as well as the frequency, intensity and duration.  At 20.8%, Bury falls just below the national figure of 21% but is still within the middle 50% nationally. 

The key indicators measured by the Active People Survey were:
·       the % of adults participating in at least 30 minutes moderate intensity sport and active recreation (including recreational walking) on 3 or more days a week; and

·       the % of the population volunteering in sport and active recreation for at least one hour a week.

Bury Council, Bury PCT and other local agencies have a target to increase the % of people being moderately active in Bury by 1% each year up to the year 2020 and plans are in place to meet this target.  Moderate intensity is defined as walking at a brisk or fast pace or for sports having raised the breathing rate. 

Councillor Tim Chamberlain, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing said: "Making time for regular exercise is so important for maintaining good health, it not only reduces the risk of heart disease, but also helps to control body weight, reduce stress and depression and generally improves quality of life.  Bury Leisure are committed to promoting healthy and active living but each individual also has a responsibility for their own health and fitness and keeping active in their daily life.  We are encouraging people to find physical activity that suits them and where we can we will help people do this."

About volunteers, The Sport England Active People Survey revealed that the level of sports volunteering in Bury was 3.4% which is in the bottom 25% in the country. 

Jackie Veal, Sports Development Manager at Bury Council said "We already have an established network of volunteers supporting the delivery of sport throughout Bury, but we do need more adults volunteering to help with a variety of programmes.  Volunteering in sport can be a very rewarding experience and we are eager to hear from anyone interested in taking on this role."

To find out more about sports activities and volunteering opportunities in Bury contact Bury Metro Sports Development Team.  Phone 0161 253 6548 or go to www.bury.gov.uk/bury/sportsdevelopment