Practising what we preach

At C3 Collaborating for Health, we aim to put principle into practice in our own lives – and particularly in our office in central London:

• fresh fruit is always available, provided free-of-charge
• every Friday, we go Nordic Walking in Regent’s Park, up the road from the office
• for four months each summer, we take part in the Global Corporate Challenge, designed to encourage walking (and cycling) to be built into everyday activity
• although the office has regular opening hours, there is flexibility for all staff in the hours worked, allowing for family and other commitments
• free annual eye tests are offered to all staff.

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In addition, C3 actively supports the Government of England’s Responsibility Deal to encourage organisations to assist people to become more physically active, particularly P2, P3 and P4.

P1. Physical activity: Community – We will use our local presence to get more children and adults more active, more often including engaging communities in planning and delivery.

This pledge commits organisations to work with their local communities and existing networks through promotional and outreach work to highlight local sporting and physical activity opportunities to increase participation. This is particularly relevant given the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which provides great scope to inspire people of all ages to get more active. Systematic engagement with local communities, particularly disadvantaged communities, in the development of local sport and physical activity programmes will help ensure that the opportunities offered meet local needs.

P2. Physical activity guidelines – We will contribute to the communication and promotion of the Chief Medical Officers’ revised physical activity guidelines.

This pledge seeks to raise the profile of the Chief Medical Officers’ revised and extended physical activity guidelines (to be available in summer 2011) through improved promotion and communication of the key messages by participating organisations. Government, business, and third-sector organisations working together will help ensure greater reach and impact when the guidelines are published. There will be a particular focus on promoting the health benefits of regular physical activity and the health risks of sedentary behaviour.

P3. Active travel – We will promote and support more active travel (walking and cycling). We will set measurable targets for this health enhancing behaviour.

Walking and cycling are simple ways for people to build physical activity into their everyday life, particularly in relation to shorter journeys, many of which are still taken by car. This pledge commits organisations to take clear actions to support and promote active travel. These could include, for example, promoting cycling for employees through the provision of secure, safe, and accessible bike parking and the provision of good quality changing and locker facilities.

P4. Physical activity in the workplace – We will increase physical activity in the workplace, for example through modifying the environment, promoting workplace champions and removing barriers to physical activity during the working day.

The aim of this pledge is to improve employees’ health and wellbeing, which can help reduce sickness absence, and increase productivity. Employers have a significant role to play in promoting sport and physical activity for their employees. This could include promoting a culture where sport and physical activity are actively encouraged through sporting and recreational clubs, highlighting the benefits of physical activity, or even improving signage to encourage employees (and visitors) to take the stairs instead of the lift.

P5. Physical activity: Inclusion – We will tackle the barriers to participation in physical activity faced by some of the most inactive groups in society.

Evidence shows that there are specific population groups most at risk of physical inactivity – these include disadvantaged groups, older people, people with disabilities, and certain black and minority ethnic (BME) populations. This pledge commits organisations to remove any proven or perceived barriers to participation in physical activity through, for example, tailored promotion and delivery of sport and physical activity opportunities. Organisations may achieve this by working with local community groups or engaging with community leaders or ‘influencers’.