Four UK parks are set to benefit from £100,000 of investment to encourage local people to get active in their local park.
Capital grants from the London Marathon Charitable Trust have been awarded through the Active Spaces programme delivered in partnership with Fields in Trust. The four recipients of a capital award of £25,000 each are People’s Park in Ballymena, Halewood Park in Knowsley (Merseyside), West Pilton Park in Edinburgh and Gelligaled Park in Rhonda Cynon Taf. Each award will enhance a vibrant green space to encourage good health and physical activity.
Well-designed and well-maintained, accessible green space can have a positive impact on public health. Recent research by Fields in Trust demonstrates the significant health and wellbeing benefits for those who visit parks and green spaces regularly. An estimated £111 million per year is saved by the NHS immediately, just from prevented GP visits alone. Encouraging those who do not currently use parks regularly to do so could save further health expenditure.
Active Spaces is the first UK-wide funding programme from the London Marathon Charitable Trust which makes grants to projects that encourage people to get active. The funding comes from the surplus generated by the iconic mass participation events organised by London Marathon Events Ltd.