from ParkLives Impact Assessment Improving community health and wellbeing

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1 from ParkLives Impact Assessment Improving community health and wellbeing

2 ParkLives has delivered some fantastic outcomes over the last six years ParkLives started in 2014 as a unique collaboration between Coca-Cola GB and local authorities to provide free activities in local parks. Starting out in Birmingham, Newcastle and the London Borough of Newham, it has now grown to operate in ten cities with an additional 50 locations through a partnership with charity StreetGames. As well as being a programme to bring families and communities together and better utilise green spaces, over the last four years we ve found ParkLives has: Generated funding for green spaces Supported people through mental health challenges Helped people recover from injury and illness Helped people overcome isolation and loneliness Total Attendances ,076,793 of the attendances in Birmingham were 52% by people from BME communities of participants in Birmingham live in communities which fall within the 65% top 20% most deprived areas of participants in 87% Newcastle are female of participants in Newcastle 46% are aged 50 years or older Over 50 different types of free sessions delivered in the community Nordic Walking Rounders Couch to 5K Den Building Buggy Mums Tai Chi Tennis Yoga Zumba Family Fun Skateboarding Rollerskating...and many more

3 Where has ParkLives operated? 1 Dundee 2 Glasgow Newcastle 4 Manchester 3 5 Stoke-on-Trent 6 4 Nottingham 7 Birmingham Swansea London Newham Southampton ParkLives StreetGames locations

4 Bringing ParkLives to Dundee has enabled to us to take activities right to the heart of our communities. Some of these communities can be hard to reach and often don t participate in activities we run in our gyms and leisure centres. Taking fun and free activities right to their doorsteps has enabled us to target people most in need of support to improve their health and well-being and is making a huge difference to the lives of many of our participants. Graham Wark Head of Leisure and Sports Service, Leisure and Culture Dundee Whoever thought of delivering Zumba and Tai Chi in parks was an inspiration to getting more people involved and active. No pressures about wearing the right clothes, being super fit or young and trim! We were encouraged to take part at what level we felt comfortable with and the session leaders changed the exercises so we didn t feel left out or not able. I go along twice a week and tell all my friends to come too. Zumba and Tai Chi Participant in Birmingham I ve been working alongside a counsellor for many years for my mental health but never seemed to get better. These walks have really helped my confidence and social skills. I feel so good about myself. Walking Group Participant in Manchester

5 Parks play a vital role of 24 disease clusters are lower where there is more green space within 1km Source: Mobility is related to a green living environment, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2009, Mass J et al There are over 1.3 billion green exercise visits a year in England, resulting in health benefits in England of 2.2bn per year Source: Green spaces worth 2.2bn to public health in England, BBC Every 10% increase in green space is associated with a reduction in health complaints equivalent to an increase of five years of healthy living Source: Natural Environments Healthy Environments? An Exploratory Analysis of the Relationship between Greenspace and Health, Sage Journals, 2003, de Vries S et al I have always thought that playing with my games consoles at home is the best fun but I have been proven wrong by being in the park this summer. I ve had so much fun with the activities that ParkLives has organised. Esosa ParkLives Participant in London Newham

6 However budget cuts are having an impact 75% 9.7% of local authorities think a reduction in public funds will disproportionately affect parks and green spaces Source: State of UK Public Parks 2016, Heritage Lottery Fund reduction in total LA budgets between Source: Public health cuts will lead to more sick people, report warns, The Guardian 57% 90% of adults use their parks at least once a month or more Source: State of UK Public Parks 2016, Heritage Lottery Fund of households with children under five visit their local park at least once a month or more Source: State of UK Public Parks 2016, Heritage Lottery Fund 60% 53% 92% of park managers report cuts to their revenue budgets over the past 3 years Source: State of UK Public Parks 2016, Heritage Lottery Fund Park managers who report their parks in good condition Source: State of UK Public Parks 2016, Heritage Lottery Fund 95% of park managers expect further cuts over the next 3 years Source: State of UK Public Parks 2016, Heritage Lottery Fund

7 ParkLives helps people overcome illness and injury 38% of adults currently do less than the recommended levels of physical activity per week Source: Sport England Active Lives Report, March 2018 The most deprived areas are on average 33% inactive compared to 25% in the least deprived Source: Natural Environments Healthy Environments? An Exploratory Analysis of the Relationship between Greenspace and Health, Sage Journals, 2003, de Vries S et al 1 in 6 people will die prematurely because they are not active enough Source: Physical Inactivity Report 2017, BHF I was badly injured in a car accident a few years ago and advised if I didn t exercise I would be confined to a wheelchair. The regular weekly exercise, looking forward also to the social element has benefited me greatly. I am able to do much more than I could prior to my involvement, including increased flexibility, overall fitness and greater wellbeing. Heather Nordic Walking Participant in Newcastle I ve lived round this area for 70 years and never known anything like this. It s great!! Lovely group. I m currently under a specialist for heart failure so I can t over do things but knowing Laura [session leader] and the group care really helps. We just do what we can. Everyone is equal! Love it. Bry Walking Group Participant in Manchester

8 Case Study: Amanda and Alan s Story Father-daughter team Amanda and Alan from Stoke have been attending various ParkLives sessions at Hanley Forest Park and Longton Park in Stoke-on-Trent. Not being a fan of gyms, Amanda who is suffering from terminal cancer much prefers to be out in the fresh air and has found ParkLives sessions to be very instrumental along her journey. [ParkLives] is making a great deal of difference to my fitness levels, my confidence and strength. I am suffering from terminal cancer, so I am limited in options for exercise classes. That s why I was really excited to hear about ParkLives. Amanda Circuit Training Participant in Stoke-on-Trent I ve been attending ParkLives circuit training sessions on Monday mornings with my daughter Amanda. Amanda has suffered from 3 cancers over the last couple of years and I desperately wanted to support her in this venture. She was so keen to participate. I look forward to the sessions and have recommended them to my friends and work colleagues. Alan Circuit Training Participant in Stoke-on-Trent

9 ParkLives helps people overcome mental health challenges Outdoor exercise is a credible, clinically-valid treatment option and needs to be prescribed by GPs, especially as for many people access to treatments other than anti-depressants is extremely limited. Paul Farmer CEO of mental health charity Mind I signed up for the Couch to 5k at Wollaton Park. I am a stay at home dad, who suffers with severe depression and have struggled with life in recent months to the point of needing support from the Crisis Unit. I was extremely apprehensive about joining, as haven t really done any exercise/sport in a number of years. Lyndsey is an excellent coach and extremely inspiring, from having done nothing, last week I went out 5 times and am already seeing and feeling the benefits. I feel energised and am feeling more positive generally. It has also had a positive impact on the family and has even made us all go out running together. Couch to 5k Participant in Nottingham Our Active Parent & Toddler Group has been such a fantastic experience for myself personally, as I suffer from really bad anxiety and depression. It s helped me overcome my difficulties in social situations, I feel a lot more confident in myself and it s been nice wanting to get out there and do something positive. It s been a fantastic experience. I have 7 children who have all been along with me over the months and to see them smiling, laughing and forming their own little friendships and getting active has been amazing. Also, meeting other parents and getting to know them and having a laugh and even sharing stories. The fact that this has been free is a real bonus. Thank you for a great experience and for changing my life really. Active Parent & Toddler Group Participant in Stoke-on-Trent ParkLives game me confidence in what I was doing and I was very relaxed. Indirectly it has reduced my alcohol consumption. Yoga Participant in Swansea

10 Case Study: The Power of Running I ve been holding running sessions with ParkLives for three years now and love that I m helping people to get out of the house, try a new hobby and make friends along the way. In my time, I ve even coached a few next-door neighbours that didn t know each other before and are now running buddies. To me, that s what these sessions are all about. Mick Couch to 5k session leader in Birmingham For a long time now I have been struggling with depression. I hit a real low at the beginning of January and I decided to take up running. At first it was really difficult to leave the house, but eventually I started enjoying myself and started wanting to get out. I didn t complete the first course I started, but this time round, I ve absolutely smashed it and I am so proud of myself, and honestly I feel so much better in myself mentally and physically. Couch to 5k Participant in Birmingham

11 ParkLives can help people overcome loneliness and isolation Loneliness, which in the past may have been viewed as a trivial matter, is a serious condition that can severely affect a person s mental and physical health, and increase the risk of premature death by 30% Age UK I ve suffered with depression almost all my life. I ve always been a loner really but I ve made lots of new friends and we meet after the walk too. I ve never felt so happy! Geraldine Walking Group Participant in Manchester ParkLives is great. I m new to the city and it has meant I can come and meet new people [and] make friends which is important to me. This ParkLives session has been a lifeline, otherwise I would have met nobody. Homeless World Cup Participant in Glasgow I lost my hubby a few years ago and this walk really helps as lots of people have experienced what I have. It s funny how an hour a week can change your outlook on life. It s full of fun and laughs. I ve never giggled so much. With a free brew and chat! Just special it is. Margaret Participant in Manchester I m so thankful that ParkLives has come to Southampton, allowing mothers like me the ability to get out of the house, get fit, socialise and make new friends and best of all it is free which means mums on maternity pay or lower income can join in! Buggyfit Participant in Southampton I couldn t get out of bed before starting sunrise beach yoga. Being on the beach as the sun comes up is a magical way to start the day. And all for free. Beach Yoga Participant in Swansea

12 ParkLives has delivered some wider wellbeing outcomes Research conducted with participants has shown some wider positive outcomes on their wellbeing as a result in taking part in ParkLives sessions. Participants in Newcastle (+1%) and Dundee (+12%) reported higher life satisfaction and happiness than the city averages Participants in Manchester reported greater self-efficacy to exercise after attending multiple ParkLives sessions (+3%) Participants in Newcastle (+7%) and Dundee (+30%) have greater trust in their community than the national average Participants in Dundee have been able to identify with their community more as a result of attending ParkLives sessions (+16%) 36% of participants in Swansea reported increased self-confidence 9% of participants in Swansea reported developed coping strategies to better manage everyday stressors as a result of attending ParkLives sessions 82% of participants in Swansea are doing more physical activity and recognising the benefits of an active lifestyle as a result of attending ParkLives sessions 82% of participants in Swansea increased their usage of local green space as a result of attending ParkLives sessions

13 Case Study: ParkLives with StreetGames ParkLives with StreetGames gives young people and families living in disadvantaged areas the opportunity to access parks in their local communities through a variety of sports or physical activities, including football, sailing, street golf and fitness. It also aims to equip participants with the skills, knowledge and confidence to access their local parks regularly and independently. Following a meeting with the local police, they confirmed there had been 0% antisocial behaviour from young people in the area. The buses have stopped being vandalised thanks to the hard work ParkLives with StreetGames has put into the area. Sasha Moore, ParkLives with StreetGames Lead, Life Leisure

14 To find out more please contact Mark Saxon Head of Public Affairs Coca-Cola Great Britain Liz Lowe Sustainability Manager Coca-Cola Great Britain