The Fitter Futures project in conjunction with the Eastern Region Age Concern Fit as a Fiddle programme funded by the Big Lottery is hosting a conference at the Trinity Centre Cambridge on the 15th October 2008.  Organisations and agencies across the Eastern Region supporting and promoting the wellbeing of people in mid and later life are invited to the event which will showcase projects from the past, present and future which support physical activity, healthy eating and improved mental wellbeing.

Delegates will have the opportunity to:

• Find out more about the Fitter Futures and Fit as a Fiddle projects.
• Learn from the experiences of others.
• Network with colleagues and like-minded partner agencies
• Explore how they can get involved
• Promote and discuss their own work.

This is a free event, however, spaces are limited.  To find out more or to book a space, download the conference flier, draft programme and booking form from the direct downloads page on this site or contact Sue Houlder (Conference Organiser) at sue.houlder@eera.gov.uk

In July 2008, The Audit Commission published a National report on well-being in later life, which concludes that councils in England, particularly those with the fastest ageing populations are not ready to meet the needs of older residents who will make up more than a third of the population by 2009.

Amongst a range of recommendations the report advises that local councils should 'tackle the stereotypes and myths that prevent older people being fully engaged in the community and receiving appropriate services.'

The Audit Commission study, which the report is based on, focussed on people age 50 and over, specifically people living independently without a need for social care services.   235 people within 10 local authorities were interviewed, 4 older people mystery shopped 49 councils, and 175 older people took part in 15 focus groups.

The report can be accessed by visiting the Audit Commissions website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/laterlife/

The web link above also provides interactive maps to show the projected increases in the 50 and over population across England up to 2029. 

• Prevention of illness and promotion of health and wellbeing.
• Early interventions for those who develop a health condition.
• An improvement in the health of those out of work – so that everyone with the potential to work has the support they need to do so.

The British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health have recently updated and extended their Active For Later Life Toolkit, which aims to help and support everyone involved in developing physical activity programmes for older people of all ages and abilities (including those in midlife).  The toolkit was originally published in 2003, but has now been updated and made available as a web based resource.

Information contained in the toolkit includes:

• Section 1 - Making the case for physical activity and older people
• Section 2 - Factors affecting planning
• Section 3 - A guide to programme planning
• Section 4 - Working papers
• Section 5 - Putting it into practice
• Section 6 - Information directory

To access the toolkit and to view information on a range of information relating to older people's physical activity visit www.bhfactive.org.uk/older-adults/currentprojects.html

Fitter Futures has extracted information from the Sport England Active People Survey 2005/2006 (www.webreport.se/apd/) to show the current participation levels of people in the midlife age range (approx 45 - 65). 

The information is presented in ten year age bands from 35 up to 74 to allow for comparison, and data is provided for the level of 3x30 participation per week, average of once a week, and zero participation.  Data is provided to allow for national, regional, county and local authority comparisons across the Eastern Region and is presented in table and graph forms.

Data on the National Governing Body sports and activities most frequently participated in by the midlife age range has also been extracted, which includes comparisons of the participation levels in the Eastern Region for these activities compared to national participation.

It is hoped that the information will add to existing analysis of the Active People Survey Data to support planning and focus at regional, county and local levels.  To access the documents, please visit the Useful Documents 1 page.

Age Concern England (ACE), working in partnership with each Age Concern Region (including the Eastern Region) put forward a Stage 2 bid to the Big Lottery Wellbeing Fund in the early part of 2007.  We are extremely pleased to report that the bid was successful, securing £15.1 million nationally over 5 years for projects and initiatives to improve the wellbeing of people over 50.

Some of the initiatives will be developed at a national level and will include training for Senior Peer Health Mentors, with an emphasis on specific target groups, and the development of educational resources such as DVD's, exercise sheets, nutritional information and targeted leaflets.

Additionally each region was required to pull together a portfolio of projects to compliment and contribute to the bid and was allocated £1.25 million for the delivery of these projects.  8 projects were successfully put through to make up the Eastern Region portfolio and delivery will commence in these projects in 2008.

For a summary of the Eastern Region portfolio, please visit the Fitter Futures Documents Section on the Useful Documents 1 page.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) have launched a new campaign '30 A Day' to encourage more people in their 50's and early 60's to become more active.  www.bhf.org.uk/30aday

To accompany the campaign the BHF have produced a Blueprint Document.  The document identifies that 7 out of 10 people 50 - 65yr are overweight or obese and equally as many are insufficiently active.  They also recognise that despite the many health messages given out people in this age bracket are less likely to respond to them as they view themselves as too young for active ageing campaigns and too old for campaigns aimed at the general population.  The Blueprint includes policy calls, information and case studies under 5 key themes.

Access the Blueprint Document