Fife Health Programme Receives National Award

A Fife physical activity programme aimed at those living with long-term health conditions has received national recognition for its impact on local communities and partnership working.

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust’s Active Option 2 programme was awarded the ‘Successful Work with the Health Sector’ award by Sporta UK – the national association of leisure and cultural trusts – at its 10 year anniversary celebrations held in Bournemouth recently.

One of only two Scottish trusts to be recognised at the awards, the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust team was particularly pleased to be recognised in a very competitive category.

The trust, which manages 14 leisure facilities across Fife on behalf of Fife Council, has been delivering a self-funded health and physical activity programme since it was founded in 2008. The trust’s health and physical activity team developed Active Options 2, along with partners such as NHS Fife, Fife Council and voluntary sector, to offer referral-based health classes which are designed on a person’s functional ability rather than any long-term health condition.

Established in 2012, Active Options 2 has seen referrals and attendances increase. For the period between April 2015 and March 2016, 36,869 attendances were recorded, up 20.8 per cent on the same period last year, and, there were 1,560 referrals, an increase of 24.7 per cent. People referred to the programme have a range of long-term health conditions such as diabetes, COPD and cardiac incidents and can access classes in the trust’s facilities as well as community venues across the region.

Brian Leonard, Sporta chief executive, said: "We received a very high number of quality entries in the 'Successful Work with the Health Sector' from across the UK and it was very tough for the judging panel because there was terrific work shown in them all.

"Fife Sports and Leisure Trust demonstrated a particularly high level of partnership working, developed over several years, through the 'Active Options 2' programme, which has made a real difference to many people across the Fife community and the depth of that work, and investment in it, earned them the title. It is a great model of best practise that other trusts are already looking to learn from and we were delighted for all the Trust staff involved in making it work and the customers who support it."

Jacquie Stringer, health and physical activity manager for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “To be recognised at a UK-wide level is very gratifying for the team – it demonstrates that the programme we have put in place is well designed and is delivering a real difference to peoples’ quality of life, health and wellbeing.

“Active Options 2 is delivered by a team of highly-qualified and experienced instructors, it is very well attended, and, working with partners, we ensure we monitor and evaluate its effectiveness so that we can be confident classes do make a difference.”

Ed Watson, chief executive for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, added: “The creation of the health and physical activity team was a priority for the trust and delivers on our commitment to make a real difference to local communities. By being in a position to re-invest surpluses to our health programme, and for it to be having such a positive effect on so many people living with long-term health conditions, is something we are all very proud of.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

Photo Caption: Ed Watson, chief executive and Jacquie Stringer of Fife Sports and Leisure Trust (front row centre) share the winning the Sporta award with the trust’s health and physical activity team and participants of Active Options 2.

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust

http://www.fifeleisure.org.uk/

For further information contact:

Heather McLay

Communication Manager

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust

Tel: 07789863812