This Healthy Heart Grant project has now finished, read on for the project highlights.

The Problem

In Sandwell, cardiovascular disease kills more than one in four people. Data from Sport England’s Active Lives survey also states that 37% of the adult population are classified as inactive (completing less than 30 minutes activity per week), therefore increasing their risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The Project

The Mason Foundation partnered with Bangladesh Women’s Association in Birmingham to deliver the Community Mile programme, providing opportunities for communities to be active together in a way that works for them. The Community Mile is a six-month programme aiming to provide a starting point for those with no baseline fitness or lack of confidence, right in the heart of the community. The Mason Foundation provided CPD accredited training to six individuals identified by Bangladesh Women’s Association to become Community Mile Champions. These Champions were supported to set up and deliver their own Community Mile. The training also included education specifically relating to heart diseases and the risk factors which provided the knowledge and confidence for Champions to engage in open, positive conversations with Milers who attended the walk regarding heart health.

Project Highlights:

At the start of the project, the aim was to increase awareness of the risk factors associated with developing heart diseases and promote physical activity and nutrition as solutions to reducing these risk factors. The women who attended the walks have all increased their physical activity levels and the local community now have additional opportunities to be physically active in a group environment long-term. This will allow them to make friendships and improve community cohesion, while receiving the health benefits of taking part in regular physical activity which positively impacts heart health.