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Our policy calls

Policy blueprint front coverUrging government to take a lead in helping over 50s to get active

We are calling on the governments in Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, and all local authorities to make helping over 50s to get active a higher priority. 

This means:

  • Funding campaigns like this one to get people moving
  • Making sure doctors prescribe physical activity before pills become necessary
  • Planning towns and cities so that they are good to walk around
  • Stop diverting lottery money from grassroots facilities to pay for the Olympics
  • Providing a one-stop shop for local information on how to get active.

We will be sending our Policy Blueprint for an Active Older Population to decision-makers around the country.

We have also produced an Active for Later Life toolkit to help your local council take the necessary measures to build more active local communities. This will be available to download soon.

Support for our campaign

Caroline Flint MP, Minister of State for Public Health, Department of Health

"We have been extremely successful in cutting premature death rates from heart disease, but millions of people are living with this debilitating condition. To avoid this, maintaining and even increasing physical activity after the age of 50 is vital.

The Government's recommended minimum level of physical activity - 30 minutes of moderate activity five times a week - can help to prevent disease and to keep our minds and bodies fully functioning well into old age. As this British Heart Foundation campaign shows, this is achievable for almost everyone."

Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation

"Being active brings so many benefits to a person's overall well-being and the British Heart Foundation's 30 a Day campaign will help to spread that message. It is common knowledge that exercise benefits our physical health, but fewer people are aware of the positives it has upon our mental health.

There is a substantial body of evidence to show that physical activity reduces anxiety, decreases depression, enhances mood and can improve feelings of self-worth."

Professor Ian Philp, National Director for Older People

"Increasing the level of exercise and physical activity amongst older people not only has benefits for reducing illness, including reducing heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis, but also helps improve independence and well-being in old age. It is therefore the key policy goal in health promotion for older people".

See also:

About our Campaign

Campaign Press Office