13/11/2006

Wales has one of the worst health and physical activity records in Europe. And today it was announced that seven new schemes to get Welsh people out of their armchairs and into the local wilderness to explore have secured funding of £2.6 million from the Big Lottery Fund .

Projects in Flintshire and Wrexham, Anglesey, Cardiff, Newport, the Dyfi Valley and two projects in Caerphilly will benefit from a programme which aims to make parks, paths, trails, waterways, coasts and countryside in Wales more accessible to people living close by who might never otherwise use them.

To mark the occasion Sports Minister Alun Pugh today linked up with local children at the Marine Lake,Rhyl, to celebrate. He joined joined youngsters in canoeing, climbing and cycling events.

The Rhyl project is one of five successful schemes awarded Big Lottery Mentro Allan funding earlier this year. Working with key local agencies, the project targets individuals living in the area who are at risk of disengagement, such as young people, women and those unemployed or not in education. The project is now delivering an extensive programme of outdoor adventure opportunities including cycling, water sports, climbing, sailing and sand craft, utilising the natural environment and local facilities at hand.

The first stage of the Mentro Allan programme got underway last year when a new national partnership - led by the Sports Council for Wales - was launched at the National Eisteddfod to help develop a range of schemes to meet the programme⣣s objectives.

The latest projects to be funded will get the less energetic to get active by urging them to increase the recreational use of their natural environment. Each local project focuses on specific hard to reach target groups in areas where physical activity participation is low and where there is a need to proactively remove barriers to enable people to enjoy outdoor activities. Nature expert and TV presenter, Iolo Williams, is but one of the high profile celebrities who have thrown their support behind the programme in recent times.

The programme is also helping to drive forward the Welsh Assembly Government's 'Health Challenge Wales' initiative - a national focus to secure greater ownership, commitment and action for better health, as part of a co-ordinated and sustained effort to improve levels of health in Wales.

Outlining the importance of the programme to Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport, Alun Pugh, said: ⣣Wales has got one of the worst health and physical activity records in Europe, but a wonderful green gym on our doorstep. As well as being good for your health, taking part in exercise is a lot of fun. The Mentro Allan awards are an important contribution to the Welsh Assembly Government⣣s target for significantly increasing the amount of exercise we take by 2025.⣣

Commenting on the importance of funding such projects, Big Lottery Fund Board Member and Chair of the Mentro Allan committee, Taha Idris, said: ⣣This programme brings a significant health gain to a high risk section of the population. Mentro Allan improves the health and fitness of people by increasing their participation in physical activity. It also improves access to outdoor activities and the enjoyment of the local natural environment for people that currently do little or no exercise.⣣

Spelling out the benefits of the innovative new projects, Chair of the Sports Council for Wales, Philip Carling, said: ⣣Decorated with wild mountains, rolling hills, picture-perfect parks and fields and pristine beaches, Wales has plenty to offer those wanting to get active in the great Welsh outdoors and experience that feel-good factor that comes from the sun on your skin and fresh air on your face.

⣣People of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to develop a life-long positive approach to health and fitness by simply stepping out on to their doorsteps and exploring the natural environment around them and I wish each project every success in delivering their positive messages.⣣

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