Healthy Transport
| Description | Organised walks and cycle |
|---|---|
| Setting | Parks and green spaces in the local neighbourhood |
| Populationting | Sedentary people and people who would benefit from more exercise |
| Intervention summary | Various organised walks and activities |
| Outcome Summary | Increased physical activity |
| Startup Cost | Not known |
| Running Cost | Not known |
| Funding | The project was initially funded through Health Action Zone funding and the health walks were funded through the Countryside Agency: Walking the Way to Health. We are now funded through Wakefield Council and Wakefield District PCT. |
| Started | 2000 |
| Ended | Project ended (2007) |
| Location | Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England |
| Contact |
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Background
Healthy Transport aims to increase physical activity throughout Wakefield through organised walks and bike rides.
The activities take place in local neighbourhoods so participants can get to know the local area better. Wakefield is fortunate to have large amounts of green space and country parks. The bike rides are mainly off-road.
What is the problem you are trying to solve?
We aim to encourage people to think about how they travel and consider physically active modes.
What local organisations are involved?
Our main partner is Wakefield Primary Care Trust (PCT). We also work with other departments within Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (MDC), health centres and GP surgeries.
How many people are running this project and who are they?
Healthy Transport consists of a team of five people: a manager, two officers, a cycling officer and a walk coordinator who is employed through Wakefield PCT. We also rely on volunteer ride and walk leaders throughout the district.
What local population are you targeting?
We are targeting those with poor health but everyone is welcome to attend. Recent data 1 has shown that only 37% of men and 24% of women met the current physical activity guidelines suggested by the Government 2 .
How many people are you targeting?
We aim to run 80 walks every three months, with ten walkers per walk, and two rides with nine riders on every ride. We aim to increase the number of walks and rides annually.
Interventions
What interventions are you using to address the problem?
We organise walks and bike rides led by volunteers, and supply maps for people to undertake their own walk or bike ride. These are usually about one hour long. Our cycle maps for the district show safe routes between key locations in town centres, such as hospitals and transport interchanges, existing cycle routes, and safe, quiet roads. We are currently working with other departments within Wakefield MDC (including planning and engineering) to develop new walk and cycle routes.
Is the project design based on evidence? If so, please state reference.
No.
Outcome
What outcomes or planned outcomes are you measuring?
We measure the number of walks and bike rides taking place, and the numbers attending them. We would like to measure physical aspects of the participants such as blood pressure, weight/height and cholesterol to check changes over time. We have just begun to produce ‘satisfaction surveys’ for participants of the health walks.
Do you have any outcomes or results yet? If so, what are they?
Not yet.
Is your project relevant to a government target or guideline?
Yes, Game Plan: a strategy for delivering Government’s sport and physical activity objectives 2 , which outlines the government’s aim to increase the proportion of the adult population who participate in 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five or more times a week to 70% by 2020.
Feedback
What obstacles did you have to overcome to set up this project?
None
What have you learned about the project so far?
Our project tends to attract the 'worried well'; that is, people who are already healthy but are concerned about their health. It takes a long time to attract the people who are sedentary. It is sometimes difficult to attract volunteers to train as leaders.
What would you do differently?
We plan to trial an eight or twelve week course where people could train as leaders.
References:
- Department of Health. Health Survey for England 2003. 2004. www.dh.gov.uk (search for 2004, accessed 13 April 2007).
- Department of Culture Media & Sport, and the Government’s Strategy Unit. Game Plan: a strategy for delivering Government’s sport and physical activity objectives. 2002 http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/downloads/work_areas/sport/sport.pdf (accessed 13 April 2007).