Healthy Environments Healthy Lives - 23 February 2010
The aim of this conference was to promote the natural environment as a resource for physical and mental health and to encourage partnership working to take this agenda forward. BTCV shared the successes of BTCV Green Gyms, and highlighted the cost-effectiveness of Green Gyms in terms of physical and mental healthcare.
Below are some of the resources used during the conference which help to illustrate and explain how a "Natural Health Service" can provide good value, sustainable solutions for the public and for healthcare providers alike.
Conference supported by Communities and Local Government and in partnership with Muck In 4 Life
Presentations
Green Prescriptions [64Kb pdf]
Case study of the Green Gym at Hereward GP practice, Bourne, Lincolnshire
By Rosemary Blakesley, Green Gym Coordinator
Investing in Health and Wellbeing [76Kb pdf]
BTCV’s vision to improve the health of 500,000 people
By Tom Flood CBE, BTCV Chief Executive
What the Green Gym means to me [48Kb pdf]
“...Because my enthusiasm for getting involved was matched so quickly with opportunities for me to take responsibility, I gained a remarkable amount of experience in a very short of time..."
By Anna Ware, volunteer with BTCV Green Gym in Camden
Dr. William Bird, Strategic Health Advisor for Natural England, outlined how the Green Gym is a sound investment, with every £1 spent leading to £2.50 worth of health benefits.
Here's his presentation:
"At a time of constraints on public expenditure, premium will be placed on initiatives which deliver multiple outcomes. Green Gym fulfils this by helping people to get fitter and healthier and at the same time improving green spaces and allotments. Green Gym volunteers can also learn from each other, develop their confidence, create safer communities and help build community cohesion." Extract from Keynote Speech given by Stuart Hoggan, Acting Director for Local Democracy and Participation, Communities and Local Government
...also worth a look, Artichoke Aerobics with BTCV Green Gym in Helmsley from the Yorkshire Post!
Documents
Cost-effective health [128Kb]
Estimated cost effectiveness of the BTCV Green Gym between 2005 and 2009
A paper bringing together real cost data with some of the projected health benefits of the Green Gym and shows that this type of green exercise can be very cost effective.
BTCV Position Paper: Health and Well-being [1.8Mb pdf]
Quality of environment is a powerful driver of health and well-being. BTCV believes in environmental justice – that everyone has the right to a good quality local environment, which benefits their health and well-being.
