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The BHFNC is involved with and supports the work of several regional, national and international physical activity networks. Details of these networks can be found below:
Physical Activity Network for the West Midlands
The need for a Regional Physical Activity Network in the West Midlands was identified during the consultation process for the Regional Sports Plan in late 2003, early 2004. Feedback from physical activity and sports programme deliverer’s and practitioner’s highlighted a number of barriers to developing the physical activity agenda at a local level despite a plethora of programmes and projects running on the ground.
Practitioners felt that a Regional Network would enable the sharing of information across organisations, enable sharing of from good practice, provide increased networking opportunities in the West Midlands to support the emerging physical activity agendas and encourage the development of local networks and partnerships.
The development of the Physical Activity Network for the West Midlands is one of the nine improving health and well being objectives detailed in the Regional Sports Plan, and states that:
“A Physical Activity Network or Forum, to be established in the region, which regularly shares and promotes best practice”
The Proposed Vision for the Physical Activity Network for the West Midlands is to become
“A sustainable independent network that provides the foundations to support growth in the physical activity sector and inspire people into action, providing drive, co-ordination, communication structures, support and development opportunities”
Co-ordination:
1. To facilitate and co-ordinate work related to physical activity and health across the region.
2. To communicate and inform all stakeholders.
3. To be a consultative and influencing network for the development of regional physical activity planning.
4. The network will be guided by a representative steering group of stakeholders that will meet quarterly.
Communication:
1. To disseminate information through a dedicated virtual network.
2. To provide a safe environment for the sharing of experience’s, ideas, best and not so good practice.
Development:
1. To provide opportunities for those working in the wider physical activity sector to network, share and access information and develop skills.
2. To contribute to the evidence base of effective physical activity interventions.
3. Encourage and support the development of local networks to provide greater co-ordination of programmes and resources.
4. To hold regional events, relating to relevant topics that will have a regional and local impact.
5. To link to other regional networks across the UK.
6. The activities of the Physical Activity Network for the West Midlands will be evaluated.
For further information regarding the Physical Activity Network for the West Midlands visit www.wmpho.org.uk/paf/paIndex.asp or contact Suzanne Gardner at suzanne.gardner@sportengland.org
East Midlands Physical Activity Network
The East Midlands Physical Activity Network (EMPAN) was formed following the successful EMPHASIS Physical Activity conference in February 2004. The EMPAN has now formed a steering group from an initial meeting for the wider physical activity EMPHASIS group and developed a Discussion Paper with the Purpose and Aim of the group defined and a Delivery Plan for the future direction.
Purpose:
To bring together professionals working in physical activity and health in order to improve and co-ordinate service delivery and professional development.
Aims:
To lobby local, regional and national organisations to raise the profile of the physical activity agenda and act as the voice for the East Midlands.
- To share good practice between physical activity and health professionals.
- To provide CPD opportunities for physical activity and health professionals.
- To develop a communication network enabling information exchange to take place on a formal and informal basis.
- To support physical activity and health strategic planning in the region.
- To highlight funding opportunities for physical activity and health initiatives within the region.
- To support the implementation of new National, Regional and Local Policy on physical activity and health.
- To support the implementation of Choosing Activity.
For more information visit www.emphasisnetwork.org.uk/emphasison/activity/pan.htm or contact Sarah Bowles at sarah.bowles@sportengland.org
North West Health and Physical Activity Forum
The North West Health and Physical Activity Forum is the largest and longest running network
of physical activity specialists in the UK. There
are currently over 100 PCTs Local Authorities and Universities with representation on the
Forum from across England, providing a strong voice for physical activity.
The main aims of the Forum are:
- To be a regional body developing strong links with national organisations and national
policy;
- To promote a networking opportunity for those working within health and physical
activity;
- To share best practice and liase with and inform relevant groups where appropriate
The Forum feature in such regional documents as the new Investment for Health Plan and
North West Plan for Sport, playing a key role in much of what is going on regionally and
nationally (including strong links with the Move 4 Health, CCPR, BHF National Centre for
Physical Activity, Sport England, GONW and the North West Activity Task Force) enabling
members to keep abreast of developments within this rapidly changing field.
Physical Activity and Health Alliance
The Physical Activity and Health Alliance is a joint collaboration facilitated by NHS Health Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Executive.
The Alliance will support the physical activity and health practitioners of Scotland in the implementation of the Scottish Physical Activity Strategy 'Let's Make Scotland More Active' (Scottish Executive, 2003).
The Alliance will provide practitioners in the field of physical activity and health in Scotland with an interactive vehicle for two-way communication through which existing evidence, policy and practice will be disseminated and members encouraged to share knowledge and learning.
It is envisaged that the Alliance will take the form of a virtual interactive e-network plus a programme of annual events.
The Alliance will be accessible to practitioners from a range of professional and volunteer backgrounds, including local government, NHS Health Boards and Community Healthcare Partnerships, Community Planning, voluntary and community organisations, local enterprise companies and businesses.
Alliance Vision:
The Alliance will provide professionals in the field of physical activity and health in Scotland with an interactive network for two-way communication.
Objectives:
The Alliance will:
- Disseminate existing evidence, policy and practice
- Provide opportunities to enhance knowledge, enable learning and improve practice
- Build capacity across the Physical Activity workforce
- Act as a national forum for sharing ideas, promoting discussion and stimulating debate
- Host a central hub of resources, tools and links.
Physical Activity Network for Wales
In 1999 the Welsh Assembly Government invited members of the Sports Council for Wales to convene a Healthy and active lifestyles Task Force to advise on cross cutting issues in order to increase the levels of physical activity in Wales. A series of recommendations were produced at the end of 2001 and following consultation the ‘Healthy and active lifestyles in Wales: a framework for action’ was produced. This sets out a programme of action to encourage the population of Wales, particularly the most sedentary, to lead more active and healthy daily lifestyles.
The intention of the plan was to complement other Welsh Assembly Government initiatives, including the Walking and Cycling Strategy, the Physical Education and School Sport Action Plan and the Sport and Active Recreation Strategy in order to tackle the issue of increasing levels of inactivity with a broad base of initiatives.
It is recognised that in order to achieve change, effective partnerships are needed. One of the key objectives for the Healthy and active lifestyles plan was to develop national and local partnerships and strategies to increase physical activity through active living. Many of these partnerships are already in place; it is the inclusion of physical activity in all health programmes developed by these partnerships that needs to be addressed. One of the recommendations of the plan therefore, was to establish an all-Wales physical activity liaison group in order to bring together national and local representatives to identify common objectives to share best practice, and to establish a Physical Activity Network for Wales.
The Physical Activity Network for Wales will link with individuals and organisations across the whole spectrum of physical activity in Wales. Providing support and facilitating partnership working. The network will also facilitate the sharing of information and best practice principles, with the aim of increasing the physical activity levels of the people of Wales. The network also aims to produce a form guidance each local authority can refer to when establishing their individual physical activity network and action plan.
The Network is working on a website which should be launched later this year. Members of the Network will receive a free monthly e-bulletin, which aims to keep members up to date with what’s new, events, research material, training and funding opportunities. Members will also receive invitations to networking events in Wales, offering you the opportunity to meet, share information and best practice principles with fellow colleagues.
For further information please contact: Anne-Marie Brackpool (Physical Activity Network Coordinator)
European Network for the Promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA)
The European network for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA Europe) is a collaborative project which works for better health through physical activity among all people in the WHO European Region, by strengthening and supporting efforts to increase participation and improve the conditions for healthy lifestyles.
The objectives of HEPA Europe are:
- to contribute to the development and implementation of policies and strategies for health-enhancing physical activity;
- to develop, support, and disseminate effective strategies, programmes, approaches and other examples of good practice;
- to support and facilitate multisectoral approaches.
WHO/Europe closely collaborates with the network, consistently with the goals of its programme on transport and health that include the promotion of physical activity as a healthy means for sustainable transport. The activities of the network are based on policy statements such as the WHO Global Strategy for Diet, Physical Activity and Health and on corresponding statements from the European Commission, as well as on the best available evidence for population-based approaches to promote health-enhancing physical activity.
Membership is open to organizations and institutions at the sub-national, national or international level willing to contribute to the goals and objectives of the network. Network activities support cooperation, partnerships and collaboration with other related sectors, networks and approaches.
For more information, visit www.euro.who.int/hepa/20050822_1 contact +39 06 4877538 (tel), +39 06 4877599 (fax),
e-mail hepa@ecr.euro.who.int
European Heart Network
The European Heart Network (EHN) is a Brussels-based alliance of heart foundations and likeminded non-governmental organisations throughout Europe, with member organisations in 25 countries. The Network plays a leading role in the prevention and reduction of cardiovascular disease through advocacy, networking and education so that it is no longer a major cause of premature death and disability throughout Europe.
To achieve its aim, EHN dedicates itself to:
- influencing European policy makers in favour of a heart-healthy lifestyle;
- creating and nurturing ties between organisations concerned with CVD prevention;
- gathering and disseminating information relevant to CVD prevention;
- monitoring European Union policy;
- encouraging support for comprehensive CVD research.
EHN works through Expert Groups on specific concerns, including:
- nutrition for a healthy heart;
- tobacco policy and discouraging smoking;
- occupational health and psycho-social factors;
- physical activity as a natural part of daily life.
Through its membership of the World Heart Federation, EHN is also active in the creation of a wider international heart network whose aim is to advance the cause of cardiovascular health promotion world-wide.
For more information, visit www.ehnheart.org
La Red de Actividad Fisca de las Americas (RAFA) / The Physical Activity Network of the Americas (PANA)
La Red de Actividad Fìsca de las Amèricas (RAFA)/The Physical Activity Network of the Americas (PANA) is created with the objective of building a “network of national networks” integrating members of public and private institutions both nationally and internationally to promote health and quality of life through physical activity. RAFA/PANA work with members to develop, share and coordinate strategies, which strengthen efforts to increase knowledge, benefits and the levels of physical activity among populations in the Americas.
The Network includes members of public and private institutions that initiate or develop physical activity programs, as well as national and international organizations that can advise and sponsor member activities.
For more information, visit www.rafapana.org
Asia Pacific Physical Activity Network (APPAN)
The Centre for Physical Activity and Health (CPAH), based at the University of Sydney is currently working towards the development of a physical activity network in the Asia Pacific Region, with the involvement of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE).
The proposed Asia Pacific Physical Activity Network (APPAN) will be an informal communication network, coordinated by the Centre for Physical Activity and Health. It will support information flows around physical activity and health in the Asia Pacific Region, and will assist with supporting the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. It will interact with other regional physical activity and NCD networks (e.g. in Americas and Europe).
Objectives of the network
- Develop communications and share information across network members.
- Disseminate updated information on population level physical activity policies, programs, guidelines and measurement / surveillance.
- Provide evidence-based reviews and technical support; act as a clearinghouse for physical activity and public health in the Asia Pacific Region.
Next steps
Initiate communication with key individuals to set up the network based on countries' needs concerning a physical activity network in the Asia Pacific Region.
Actions will be undertaken to:
- Develop further and maintain the Asia Pacific Physical Activity Network's website;
- Disseminate national and regional physical activity policies, programmes, guidelines and measurement / surveillance information on the APPAN website;
- Host an international teleconference;
- Organise a formal network meeting to develop a framework with a set of next actions.
For more information, visit
www.ap-pan.org/modules/sections/index.php?op=viewarticle&artid=30
Global Alliance for Physical Activity (GAPA)
The International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have launched the Global Alliance for Physical Activity (GAPA).
GAPA has been established to provide coordination, integration and a strategic orientation to the activities and actions developed by international and national NGOs, as well as civil society, to help countries commence, continue and/or increase their efforts to address physical activity within the broad agenda of non-communicable disease prevention and health promotion.
Vision
To advance knowledge, skills and population-based approaches to the promotion of physical activity.
Mission
- To provide an independent, unified voice for physical activity distinguishing itself by being global in scope and action oriented.
- To provide coordination and strategic orientation to the activities and actions developed by international and national NGOs, as well as civil society
- To help countries commence, continue and/or increase their efforts to address physical activity within the broad agenda of non-communicable disease prevention and health promotion.
Objectives
- To provide coordination and strategic orientation to the activities and actions developed by international and national NGOs, as well as civil society
- To undertake global advocacy for physical activity.
- To promote the development, implementation & evaluation of national policy and action plans and programmes on physical activity.
- To promote the case for (national) population-based approaches to promotion and of physical activity.
- To work in partnerships and engage others in the promotion of physical activity.
For further information, visit www.ryates.me.uk/gapa4/index.htm contact Dr Fiona Bull on 01509 226384 or email info@globalpaalliance.org
International Physical Activity and the Environment Network (IPEN)
The International Physical Activity and the Environment Network (IPEN) was launched by Professor Jim Sallis (USA), Dr Ilse DeBourdeaudhuij (Belgium) and Professor Neville Owen (Australia) at the International Congress of Behavioral Medicine in Mainz Germany in August 2004.
The network aims to:
- increase communication and collaboration between researchers investigating environmental correlates of physical activity
- stimulate research in physical activity and the environment
- recommend common methods and measures
- support researchers through sharing of information, feedback, letters of support etc.
- bring together data from multiple countries for joint analyses
- aid in the publication of data through papers, special journal issues, symposia etc.
For more information, visit www.ipenproject.org or contact Jacqueline Kerr on jkerr@projects.sdsu.edu
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