Suffolk County Council and the Suffolk Association of Local Councils have joined together to relaunch Suffolk’s Most Active Communities for 2017.
The scheme recognises the hard work carried out by Suffolk communities to encourage residents to be active.
• See here to download an entry form.
It comes a year after a report found obesity levels are worse in Suffolk than every London borough.
There were 7,365 admissions to Suffolk’s two main hospitals in 2014/15 where obesity was the main reason for a person being admitted or was a secondary factor, Health and Social Care Information Centre figures showed.
The figure had risen by 36% in just a year, up from 5,399 in 2013/14. The authority is aiming for Suffolk to be the most active county in England by 2028.
Tony Goldson, cabinet member for health at Suffolk County Council and chairman of the Suffolk Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “Communities, large and small, do a brilliant job in providing opportunities for people to be active. This competition is a great way of highlighting and celebrating their work.”
There are three categories in the 2017 awards: most active town, most active large village (population of more than 1,000), and most active small village (population of less than 1,000).
Each category winner will receive an engraved brass plaque.
Shona Bendix, chief executive of the Suffolk Association of Local Councils, said: “The awards give communities a chance to demonstrate what they do to assist people to lead healthier, more active lifestyles.
“This allows us to celebrate their efforts and the important contribution they make to Suffolk’s ambition of becoming the most active county in England.”
Bury St Edmunds were the winners of the Most Active Town award in 2015.
Mark Cordell, chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District, said: “In 2015, we created the first festival of sport and will be doing so again in October this year. I’m sure we’ll enter the awards again this year.”
The closing date is Friday, October 13.
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