Email Newsletter November 2010
Dear Count Me In! Supporter,
Welcome to the third Count Me In! update - a brief guide to what the programme has been up to over the past few months and all the excitement which is yet to come.
As you now know, in Tewkesbury we're lucky to be one of only nine Healthy Towns in the UK participating in a Government-funded initiative to encourage the local community to make healthier lifestyle choices about what they eat, how active they are and how they use their local environment.
Since November 2008, the Count Me In! team has been busy rolling out events and activities to promote the programme - updates on which can be seen at: www.countmeintewkesbury.com.
2010 has been an incredibly busy year with dozens of CMI-backed initiatives and projects cropping up all over the town, - many of which will contribute to the legacy of the programme, - of which the CMI team is very proud.
A busy year so far...
AdiZone
The CMI adiZone, the only one of its kind in the South West, was opened by Olympic Gold medallist Jason Kenny in March. The giant outdoor gym was jointly funded through CMI and 2012 Olympics sponsor Adidas. Measuring 625sq metres, the gym boasts sporting facilities inspired by Olympic and Paralympic sports including a basketball, football and tennis area, a climbing wall, an outdoor gym and an open area to encourage dance, aerobics and gymnastics. It has been an instant hit with members of the community of all ages, and is used daily for organised activities and clubs, particularly during the school holidays when CMI organises an extensive range of events.
Read more and see photos online...
Let's Dance with Change4Life
In March, CMI launched a series of dance classes with a mini Let's Dance Festival.
See photos online...
Park that Bike - Cycle grants
In January CMI launched Park that Bike - a grant scheme offering up to 100% funding to Tewkesbury employers for the provision of cycle parking. Over the summer, cycle provisions have been installed at numerous businesses across the town and more grant applications have been received.
Read more online...
Growing Places
From growing vegetables at allotments, to pumpkin carving, seed propagation seminars and healthy recipes, the CMI Growing Places Project in association with Vision 21 Gloucestershire has been inspiring people all over Tewkesbury to make the most of the great outdoors.
Read more online...
Cycle Track Opening
We watched with delight as families flocked to the Ride the Route event to launch the Newtown Cycle Track in April. The track which was extended and improved by Gloucester County Council, has since been used for CMI cycle events and is a massive asset to the town encouraging more people to leave their cars at home in favour of pedal power.
See photos online...
Healthy Catering Challenge
The 27 Tewkesbury caterers who signed up to take part in the Healthy Catering Challenge are continuing along their journey to provide healthier food choices for their customers by working alongside nutritionists to reduce the levels of fat, salt and sugar in their most popular dishes. The project has been such a success that a Healthy Catering Challenge DVD presented by Cotswold Chef Rob Rees was produced and released in August.
Watch the video online...
CMI Festival
Tewkesbury residents flocked in their thousands to the CMI Festival in May to take part in a whole host of fun activities. Residents old and young turned out at the Festival for two days packed full of activities and events designed to show families how to live healthier, more active lives.
The event included dance workshops, drawing with bikes, crazy bikes, treasure hunts, Tai Chi, face painting, a 50-mile guided bike ride, jogging sessions, bike coding, Nordic walking, pedal powered scalextric, a Viking arena, rugby and squash demonstrations.
See photos online...
Get Cycling
In May children at 10 schools across Tewkesbury worked with national community cycling group Get Cycling to learn innovative ways in which bikes could change their life. CMI-funded Get Cycling ran roadshows teaching children from reception age to sixth form, the importance of cycling for health, fun, practicality and the environment.
Read more online...
Travel Advisors
Thousands of selected Tewkesbury borough households received a visit from a team of CMI travel advisors during the summer. The selected households received information and guidance on how to become more healthy - including access to active travel, leisure walks and cycle rides, as well as upcoming local community activities such as exercise and dance events.
Read more online....
University Evaluation
The thousands of Tewkesbury borough residents who took part in the 2009 University of Gloucestershire-led survey questioning residents' views on eating healthy foods, transport, and physical activity have taken part in the second stage of the evaluation.
Read more online...
CMI champion Peter Godwin pedals for Paris
Tewkesbury resident Peter Godwin was so inspired by the CMI programme that in September he saddled-up for a gruelling 400-mile cycle challenge to raise £10,000 for The Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal in Tewkesbury. 55-year-old Peter had been using the new CMI facilities including the adiZone and Newtown Cycle Track to get in shape for the Pedal to Paris challenge.
Read more online...
Putting your best foot forward with CMI walking maps
To mark the National ITV Walk 4 Life Day in September, CMI unveiled a series of town-wide maps designed to encourage residents to walk more for a healthier life. Five detailed maps were created by CMI in association with Walk England and Active Gloucestershire. The maps cover each of the five wards within the CMI programme - Wheatpieces & Walton Cardiff, Newtown, Mitton & Town Centre, Priors Park and Northway.
Download the maps online...
Healthy Workplace
Tewkesbury businesses have been invited to sign-up to a well-being scheme which would improve the health of employees. The Well-being@Work Award Scheme - a free initiative open to all public, private and third sector businesses in Tewkesbury - was launched by CMI in association with VISION Culture in October. Businesses who sign-up for the scheme will receive professional help and support to introduce new ways to improve the health and well-being of their workforce.
Read more online...
Priors Park Community Garden Project
Four allotment plots at the Priors Park Neighbourhood Project are being well managed by the residents growing all manner of vegetables including: potatoes, parsnips, tomatoes, aubergines, carrots, courgettes and squashes. The several compost bins and heaps are nearly full and ready for spreading during the winter.
Northway Orchard
In March, the CMI team began work with a Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Growing Places officer and community volunteers to turn Joan's Field in Northway into a community orchard.
CMI gets social
We've gone social! This year, CMI has been communicating with our supporters on both Facebook and Twitter - answering queries, posting images and discussing events. Follow us at
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We’re looking forward to...
Evaluation
The second phase of focus groups exploring the views of families youth and children will be held in December and January. These will continue to investigate lifestyles in the area and will be followed by the third and final household survey in the spring.
Healthy Catering Challenge
The 27 Tewkesbury caterers who signed up to take part in the Healthy Catering Challenge are now approaching the end of the project. Over the winter, each trader will take part in re-sampling and results will be reported.
More details online...
Cookery Classes with Rob Rees
Throughout November and December 2010, CMI is joining forces with Cotswold Chef Rob Rees and The Wiggly Worm to run adult cookery classes across Tewkesbury. These interactive demonstrations will be held at the Sycamore Chapel in Northway on Fridays between November 5 and December 17th.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi and swimming classes for the Over 50s are now running in Tewkesbury. The activities are held throughout the week at a variety of locations. A DVD is currently in production which will enable people to enjoy Tai Chi from the comfort of their own home.
More information is available online...
Spring into Spring
In March 2011 CMI and Vision 21 will host a Spring into Spring event, concentrating on why local food is important.
Active Travel
Employers at Tewkesbury's Junction 9 business parks who want to help their staff keep fit and
healthy are being invited to take part in the CMI Active Travel project which highlights the ease with which employees can get active. In conjunction with Atkins Global, CMI will host events during December to promote cycling.
Read more online...
Travel advisors scheme
Following the success of the Travel Advisors scheme in the summer, CMI will launch a New Year reinforcement project, where thousands of residents will be encouraged and advised on ways they can get active in 2011.
Are you in yet?
If not, register at
www.countmeintewkesbury.com