Being active is more fun when it is easy and accessible. We are working with partners to put the infrastructure in place to encourage increased levels of activity within the town, making it more easily accessible and more enjoyable to participate.
Following the Spring into Health festival in March 2017, a Whitehill & Bordon Couch to 5k was born; 33 people completed the course and set they way for East Hampshire District Council, working with the Whitehill Bordon Regeneration Company, to organise the ‘Spring into Health Festival 2019’. This was a week long festival filled with healthy & wellbeing activities, open to all local residents, to celebrate the Healthy New Town initiatives and discover the many other sports and activities that are run right on their doorstep. Just under 500 people took part in the event, trying out something new and promoting a healthier lifestyle for Whitehill & Bordon.
Improved paths within the town and both the Bordon & Hogmoor Inclosure’s have increased the options for places to run, walk and enjoy recreational activities.
The natural play area in Hogmoor Inclosure has recently opened. It boasts an abundance of play areas for everyone to explore new learning opportunities and interact with nature. The play types include woodland play, informal play, sensory play, passive play and active play.
Money from the Healthy New Town programme has ensured an adult Parkrun was launched in 2018 and a junior Parkrun in May 2019. Both have been a popular success and we are working with local running clubs to ensure these events will be sustainable.
We are also working with local schools and residents to understand how we can make it easier for people to be more active and make healthier food choices.
Healthy New Town funding has provided a Food Academy in partnership with Radian’s Cafe 1759 for Whitehill & Bordon’s more vulnerable families. Balance bikes to local schools, which are being used to help children to learn to cycle, so they can ride for fun and exercise with their families. The schools also received games equipment and training for lunchtime supervisors and young playleaders, aged 9-11, to encourage more active play at school break times. As well as most recently, working with Hampshire County Council’s Catering Services (HC3S) to deliver healthy eating workshops to encourage healthy food choices for packed lunches to help children learn, grow and play.
A Making Every Contact Count (MECC) working group has been set up to cover the East Hampshire area. MECC is about supporting people to make the most of every opportunity they have with every person they come into contact with every day. Organisations in East Hampshire are embedding MECC into their services to help make a difference to the health and wellbeing of local people by encouraging and supporting them to change behaviours that may be damaging to their health.
The new leisure centre will be in the heart of the town – making it easy for everyone to access. Being linked to the Green Grid and Green Loop will ensure it will be accessible by foot and public transport. We hope this will reduce car journeys and pollution within the town.