2,000 join mayor's fitness drive to boost economy

North Yorkshire's elected mayor will use a keynote conference speech to set out a vision for local leaders to have a bigger role in the push to improve peoples' health.

Labour's David Skaith will be speaking a year on from the launch of his Moving Forward campaign, set up to grow the economy by helping people get fit enough to find a job, or keep the one they have.

The mayor's office said more than 2,000 people were already taking part in the £7m programme, which uses sport, outdoor activities and mental health support to boost mental and physical fitness.

Political opponents lauded the aspirations of the scheme but said outcomes needed to closely monitored to ensure value for money.

Among groups which secured funding from Moving Forward was mens' social community group Menfulness, which used the money to set up a new project in Malton, building on previous work in York and Scarborough.

Project manager Ryan McGourlay said the funding was being used to set up weekly exercise-based events for men.

"We've got a lot of rural industries, farming and agriculture related, in the Malton area. From speaking to local blokes, there just haven't been those support mechanisms."

McGourlay said the first session, a padel night, held early last month, attracted 18 men.

He added: "It's been so well received. It shocked me, if I'm honest, I thought it would take a couple of months to build it up.

"To get 18 at the first event was mindblowing. Some of them had previously been travelling to York or Scarborough.

"Familiar faces came back to the second event, they'd referred their friends, and were supporting each other in the most natural way. That encouragement and support, these blokes might not know how much of a difference that makes to each others' lives."

The enhanced health improvement role for metro mayors was part of this year's devolution act, which gave local leaders stronger powers in a number of areas, such as planning and housebuilding.

Friday'ss conference - being held in York - will debate what more mayors can do to tackle poor mental and physical health, which keeps people out of the workforce and out of the local economy.

Skaith said: "We know a lot of the people who'll be struggling through poor health outcomes from an early age.

"So this is about looking at how we use the various levers we can pull, through transport, through better quality housing, skills and careers, to prevent those health challenges they face much further down the road."

Skaith said the number of people taking part so far had been shaped, in part, by the way the project was set up

He added: "It's important to remember we were looking at key groups. For example, there was a big drop-off in participation among women and girls after school age.

"So we've had a real focus on harder-to-reach people in really rural areas, where acess to physical activity is much more challenging. If you develop a plan in a big city, you'll obviously attract a lot more people.

"But in our rural communities where you don't have access to much, improving access there is equally as important as doing it in cities."

The mayor said the project had also focused on working with businesses to help staff overcome mental health challenges so they stay at work, instead of taking time off sick.

"Through the Natural Health Service, which is a part of the campaign, there is a woman who has been out of work for 20 years - and is now going for interviews again," he added.

Paula Widdowson, deputy leader of City of York Council's opposition Liberal Democrat group, said many of the Moving Forward projects were "really worthwhile," and "nobody would argue against" investing in prevention, healthier communities and active travel.

But Widdowson added: "But after a year, we need to see what difference this investment is actually making.

"The mayor is very good at announcing funding, but where are the measurable outcomes?"

Michael Harrison, the senior North Yorkshire Conservative councillor responsible for public health, said he welcomed the investment made, through the Moving Forward project, over the last 12 months.

Investment in public health prevention activity will "undoubtedly have positive longer-term benefits" for residents, as well as taxpayers, Harrison said.

He added: "Looking forward it is important that investment continues in the prevention agenda, and is aligned with strategic NHS and Public Health objectives."

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