Background

Choosing Health (2004), the Public Health White paper advocates the need for Government and the public sector to lead by example with respect to promoting health in the workplace and specifically in encouraging physical activity at work.  Everyday Sport in Government is a partnership between Sport England and the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health (BHFNC) and is working to provide a free consultancy service to Government aiming to address this commitment.

Why the workplace?

As over 50% of the UK population is employed and many workers spend around 60% of their waking hours in their place of work, there is a real potential to use the workplace as a setting to promote healthier lifestyles.

Physical inactivity is a major health risk and, according to the World Health Organisation, is one of the top ten leading causes of death and disability in the world. Getting active can reduce your chances of getting some types of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and many other illnesses. It can also help to alleviate symptoms of stress, depression and other mental health problems.

But it's not just the employees who feel better for getting active. Employers benefit too.

Encouraging your work force to be physically active can reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, prevent injury, raise morale and increase staff retention. It also helps to give the organisation a positive corporate image.

What is Everyday Sport in Government doing?

The Everyday Sport in Government initiative is currently working with three Government Departments – Department of Health (DH), Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), over a 2 year pilot period.   

The consultancy service is working with each of these departments to provide tailored support and guide them through the process needed to create an active and healthy workplace.  The support provided to the Government and the approach taken is based upon the British Heart Foundation’s Think Fit! pack.  This resource has a practical focus and leads a physical activity champion through the process step by step.

The consultancy service is also linking into Everyday Sport, Sport England’s campaign to get the nation more physically active.   

For more information about the Think Fit! pack please visit www.bhf.org.uk/thinkfit

For more information about Everyday Sport please visit www.everydaysport.com

As the project progresses the learning is being captured and case studies are being documented for other Departments to use and learn from.