More Swindonians need to be more active in their daily life – and Swindon Borough Council has launched a major programme to help them do that.

The council is at the heart of the Get Swindon Active programme – but it involves sports clubs, including Swindon Town FC’s Community Foundation, gyms, and community groups.

Launching Get Swindon Active the council’s director of public health Steve Maddern said: “Physical activity has been described as a magic bullet for both physical and mental health. If it was prescribable we’d all want it on prescription.

“But, in fact, you don’t need a prescription, it’s free and activity is just there.”

Dr Maddern said part of the scheme’s intention was to work with partners to identify, find and break down the barriers that prevent people being more active in their daily life.

Activity specialist at the council Fiona Dickens said: “We know everything helps, and the message is for everyone to think how they can be more active – walking, cycling, active gardening or active housework – and how members of their family, or colleagues at work can be more active as well."

Those at the launch heard from Charly Messen, 29, who has a rare genetic condition which has been helped by being active and losing weight. She said: “Being more active has really helped my confidence as well as my mental and physical health. When I was 26, I was told I could die before my 30th birthday, since then, with support, I have lost weight and now my condition is stable.”

Steve Boocock, CEO of Wiltshire and Swindon Sport (WASP), one of the members of the Get Swindon Active Partnership, said: “Encouraging physical activity should be a priority for everyone in Swindon. We recognise though that being physically active is not entirely an individual choice, but a result of what spaces, places and opportunities are available to individuals and communities."

Councillor Brian Ford, the borough council’s cabinet member for adults and health, said: “We have the second highest percentage of adults who are inactive in the South West, according to the latest figures, so it is incredibly important we get more people taking part in regular exercise to reduce their risk of developing potentially life-threatening conditions.

“We also have a high percentage of people over the age of 65 who do not take part in any activities and this is something we need to address if we are to encourage people to live healthy, independent lives so they don’t have to rely on care services.”

More information on how to be active, and building movement into daily life is available at: https://localoffer.swindon.gov.uk/content/staying-healthy/staying-healthy/move-more/