APPENDIX 55
Letter from the Policy Research Officer,
Central Council of Physical Education, to the Chairman of the
Committee (PH 85A)
RE: PUBLIC
HEALTH INQUIRY
ORAL EVIDENCE
SESSION, 18 JANUARY
2001
I am writing to commend the Committee for the
highly constructive evidence session held last Thursday. The CCPR's
members will be greatly encouraged to learn how both Committee
members and witnesses set out the health benefits of physical
activity. This theme is reflected in our consultation manifesto
`Towards an Active Britain'.
Following on from the evidence session, there
are two issues on which the CCPR would wish to enclose further
information. John Austin MP raised the issue of work being done
by elite sport for the grassroots. Attention is drawn to the CCPR's
Voluntary Code of Conduct on Broadcasting Rights (see enclosed
annex) which commits signatories to a minimum 5 per cent investment
of TV revenue to grassroots development.
On the important issue of exercise for the elderly,
Bob Laventure from the British Heart Foundation made reference
to a sports leadership scheme for the elderly being run in East
Sussex. The scheme referred to is a Community Sports Leadership
Award Scheme organised by the British Sports Trust, which is the
charitable arm of the CCPR. The British Sports Trust annually
trains 50,000 sports leaders of all ages through their various
programmes.
The specific scheme referred to is called `vintage
sports' and is organised by Wealden District Council. It aims
to train the elderly as sports leaders who can then organise activities
for their peers in the local community. The peer mentoring element
of the scheme is effective in encouraging elderly people in the
local community to take part in the activities organised by the
elderly sports leaders.
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