Everyday Sport is helping Whitehall workers work out with a new joint initiative from Sport England and the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health (BHFNC).

Everyday Sport in Government is working with three ministerial departments – Culture, Media and Sport, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Health – to show the benefits of creating an active workplace.

As over 50% of the UK population is employed and many workers spend 60% of their waking hours in the office, there is real potential to use this 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.

The Everyday Sport in Government initiative will provide the three departments with a range of services over a two-year pilot period. These include:

• Working with the departments to draw up a workplace physical activity policy
  
• Develop training materials on how to carry out a physical activity audit, needs assessment and informal staff consultations
  
• Create additional materials and website resources to support physical activity
  
• Deliver training to workplace champions
  
• Promote walking and encourage it as a form of transport
  
• Provide specific advice and support on requested activity initiatives and challenges
  
• Make the case for workplace physical activity to other government departments and regional offices

To help deliver these services, Sport England and the BHFNC are working with a number of partners including the Civil Service Sports Council, Sustrans, The Fitness Industry Association, Living Streets, the Department of Transport and Urbanwalks.

The Think Fit! pack, produced by the BHF, is being used as a guide by all departments. The resource gives the workplace champions the guidance and support they need to develop a workplace activity programme and includes an activity wallplanner and a simple guide to good employee health.

Lessons have already been learned from the programme. It is essential to get a workplace champion on board and that the champion feels partt of the decision-making process with clear roles and responsibilities.

The champion needs the support of the senior management and to be given time to plan and resources to pull it all together. They also need to be encouraged to set up a network of people who can help them deliver programmes and activities.

Find out more about BHF Think Fit

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