Blackburn with Darwen’s commitment to the improved health and well being of its residents is continuing with a two year extension to the award winning re:fresh programme.
The Council and the Care Trust Plus are investing £1.65 million to continue the scheme in 2011/12 and committed to investing again in 2012/13.
The investment follows the scheme's dramatic success in improving the health of residents through a programme of free leisure activities and community events.
re:fresh was initially launched in 2008 as a three year programme and has produced impressive results including producing the second highest increase nationally in people taking regular exercise.
Previously, Blackburn with Darwen had the third worst level of physical activity in the country.
While the initiative remains committed to the original aim of providing free leisure some small charges have been introduced.
However, to minimise the impact, activities, which attract the largest number of people and those least likely to do exercise, for example, swimming, will remain free.
Evaluation has shown that activities like swimming, going to the gym and community based activities are the most successful in engaging large numbers of people particularly those who have been found least likely to participate in physical activity and as a result these will remain free under re:fresh.
