In November 2008, Thetford successfully bid for £900,000 of funding from the Department of Health for healthy lifestyle projects in the town.
As just one of nine towns in England to be awarded the Healthy Town status, Thetford has devised a programme of individual projects and schemes to make it easier for people to be more active and eat well for a healthier future. Healthy Towns is part of the national Change4Life movement. For more information log on to www.nhs.uk/change4life.
The programme is also part of the overall vision supporting Breckland to become a healthy district through the provision of education, skills training, infrastructure provision and a creation of a healthy culture.
Following the formal end of the Department of Health support for Thetford in March 2011, due to the success of the programme, further funding was obtained from NHS Norfolk, Breckland Council, Moving Thetford Foreword and the Breckland Partnership . This will enable further work to be undertaken until March 2012.
Healthy Breckland is there for you, your families, neighbours and friends and wants to make a real difference by helping you to be more physically active and eat more healthily wherever you live, work, travel, play or learn.
The long-term goal is to help everyone to maintain a healthy weight throughout their lives which will reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The Programme is working in Partnership and brings together NHS Norfolk, local authorities, voluntary and community organisations, the private sector and local communities.
If you want to find out more about what is happening in your area then contact Carol Doherty or Holly Gilbert at The Limes, 32 Bridge Street, Thetford, IP24 3AG, email: enquiries@thetfordhealthytown.co.uk tel: 01842 757350.
If you want to know more about the projects and how we can help you or if you have got any ideas on what we could offer, or even if you just want to discuss how we can make a difference to you or help you on your way; check out our new facebook page, details of which can be found on this website.