Residents in north Oxfordshire are invited to take part in a range of local wellbeing initiatives to support their healthy New Year’s resolutions.
Published: Monday, 15th January 2024
Cherwell District Council is encouraging people to join popular activity programmes such as Move Together and You Move, and to explore and enjoy their local area with the help of its wayfinding and mapping projects.
Move Together has changed hundreds of people’s lives with tailored exercise programmes for those living with long-term health conditions, while You Move allows children who get free school meals and their parents to enjoy the benefits of physical activity together.
New and existing users of council leisure centres, meanwhile, can benefit from state-of-the-art gym equipment which was installed by operators Parkwood during December.
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Councillor Phil Chapman, Portfolio Holder for Healthy and Safe Communities, said: “When it comes to new year’s fitness resolutions, starting small can be the key to long-term success, so we make sure to cater for people of all ages and regardless of their age or current level of fitness.
“Our innovative You Move programme, which we deliver with Active Oxfordshire, continues to go from strength to strength, with the average participant doing an extra hour and a half of healthy exercise every week.
“Participants get 50 per cent off at our leisure centres, as do families on You Move, our trailblazing programme supporting children on free school meals. We’re real believers in the power of physical activity to change people’s lives for the better, and we warmly invite our residents to find out more and choose an activity that suits them in 2024.”
Move Together now has over 1,800 participants who receive support from the council to find an activity that meets their particular needs. In 2023, 73 per cent of participants said that they had increased their activity levels, with most reporting improvements in their mobility and mental health, too.
As well as the half-price leisure centre discounts, You Move now offers local families discounts on climbing, soft play, martial arts and cricket, as well as the free sessions provided by the council’s own Youth Activators.
Cllr Chapman added: “There are countless useful resources to support anyone who would like to increase their activity levels by exploring the district on foot. People can access fantastic maps in the Go Jauntly app, follow physically signed health routes, or join a daily Ramblers’ health walk at locations across the district.”
“You could also book one of the floodlit pitches in the district for a friendly game of five-a-side or check out one of the many inclusive exercise classes on offer through our partners, be it yoga, aerobics, or dance.”