Forward

‘I am delighted to introduce and endorse this strategy of behalf or the North Lincolnshire Strategic partnership. Active recreation is an issue which contributes to the aims of our Community Strategy in North Lincolnshire.'

It links very closely to many of our other strategies and plans. The importance of emphasising ‘active recreation’ rather than ‘sports’ or ‘physical activity’ is important in several ways. We must avoid turning away people who in the past have not been active because they thought it was all about team games or because they had too much pressure on their time. We must help people to do whatever activity they are able to
do and to incorporate this into their everyday life. Walking instead of driving short distances makes us more active, makes our roads safer and helps the environment – three ways to win!

Increasing the number of people who are active will have a significant impact on the health and well being of the residents of our district. It is now beyond doubt that more activity will help both our physical health and our mental health, including
reducing heart disease, diabetes, falls in the elderly, dementia and much else. There are also effects on social isolation which are especially important for older people.

Active recreation is especially important for children and young people. It does include team sports and other competitive activity, and helping our talented young people to achieve the very best they can is important for them and for North Lincolnshire, but it also means helping young people to develop active lifestyles which will be sustainable for the rest of their life Other benefits will be a contribution to the renewal and regeneration of our community and opportunities to make our neighbourhoods safer places to live. Congratulations go to all those many people who have contributed to the development of this strategy. The challenge to all of us now will be to make sure that we all contribute to putting it in place.

Dr Tony Hill Chair,
North Lincolnshire Strategic PartnershipDirector of Public Health for North Lincolnshire