Health chiefs and council bosses have joined forces to try to persuade more people in Brighton and Hove to exercise.
Their joint initiative includes preparing a new sport and physical activity strategy for the area.
They say that the aim is to help people stay healthier for longer and, as a result, save money for the NHS.
As they prepare their strategy they are asking as many people as possible to take part in a survey, with those doing so being entered in a prize draw.
The organisations drawing up the sports strategy are Brighton and Hove City Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Brighton and Hove City Council.
The PCT – also known as NHS Brighton and Hove – said that it wanted to find out what people liked and disliked about sport and physical activity facilities in the area.
It also wants to find out what would help people fit more physical activity into their daily lives and what could be improved.
David Brindley, a health promotion specialist for the PCT, said: “Keeping active can bring about major health benefits as well as significant cost savings for the NHS.
Protection
“Even doing as little as 15 minutes physical activity a day is associated with some protection against chronic disease along with improved quality of life.
“Completing this short survey should only take ten minutes and will provide us with the information we need to ensure everyone has the maximum opportunity to be active in Brighton and Hove.
“You might even win a three-month membership at a local gym.”
Councillor Rob Jarrett, the council’s cabinet member for adult social care and health, said: “We know that there are massive benefits to staying healthy and fit for everyone from children being involved in local sports clubs such as basketball to health walks for older residents.
“Everyone should take part in this survey so that we can ensure the right facilities are provided in the right places to get more people fitter and healthier.
“This is central to our commitment to involve the community in decision making.”
The survey can be found by visiting www.tinyurl.com/spactivity, emailing sports.info@brighton-hove.gov.uk or calling 01273 292724 to request a hard copy.
Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into the competition to win a three-month full membership across the six public leisure centres operated by Freedom Leisure in Brighton and Hove.
The PCT said that the government’s chief medical officer recommended that all adults undertake at least 150 minutes of activity a week.
For children and young people, the recommendation is for an hour a day.
