Time to Celebrate

Stratford District Council's Active Communities Team will be hosting a celebration event tomorrow, Tuesday 24 May at the Grosvenor Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon as the District Council's 3-year 'GET – SET – GO' project comes to an end.

The event is to celebrate and recognise the valuable and important contribution made by supporters and volunteers and to acknowledge the efforts and achievements of those who have significantly improved their own health as a result of being a part of their project with an afternoon of tea and dancing.

The 3-year 'GET - SET - GO' project was funded by Sport England and the Big Lottery Community Investment Fund to employ 2 full time officers at the District Council from July 2008 - June 2011 to work with key partners to devise and deliver a range of group physical activity programmes for residents throughout the entire District who were sedentary and who may be at risk of, or rehabilitating from, chronic disease.

The activities were specifically designed with those aged 45 and over in mind who may otherwise have had physical, social, financial, geographical, or other barriers to participation.

Sessions included:
• 'GET Active' multi-sports clubs, group exercise classes, healthy workforce initiatives and community outreach programmes in a range of rural locations, care settings, social housing schemes and nursing homes;
• 'SET the Pace' free guided health walks primarily in market towns;
• and 'GO Green' outdoor active recreation, gardening and allotment projects combined with raising awareness of healthy eating, environmental & ecological issues.

Overall, up until the end of March this year, the project has had a total footfall of 23,679 participants at over 30 different venues, and has trained nearly 40 volunteers.

To secure the long term and ongoing success of the project one of the key aims was to train and support a bank of volunteers and to work with a range of community groups and partner organisations to break down barriers, increase opportunities to get involved and therefore ensure long-term sustainability.

The Active Communities Officers are delighted that their sessions will be continuing when their contracts end next month and wanted to organise the event to thank the participants and volunteers who have been instrumental in creating a legacy from which others may benefit in the future.

 Special thanks go to:

• Key partners -  'Everyone Active' Leisure Centres, Voluntary Action Stratford-on-Avon (VASA) and 'The Walking For Health Initiative' for their continued support;
• Local businesses such as Stratford Town Walks, Bancroft Cruisers, The Windmill Inn and Studley Castle Hotel for hosting events and
• Memorable service users, whose enthusiasm and loyalty will always be remembered, including Briar Croft Extra Care Housing Scheme in Stratford-on-Avon, the Dementia Resources Cafe, South Warwickshire Carer's Association, Warwickshire Visually Impaired Group and Low Furlong Care Home in Shipston-on-Stour.