The National Heart Alliance (NHA) and the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) recently launched their advocacy Position Paper Building Young Hearts - Physical Activity, Young People and the Physical Environment.  The Paper aims to show how the physical environment can improve young people's opportunities for physical activity and that it should be a key focus of policy for Government and Local Authorities.  

 Building Young Hearts - Physical Activity, Young People and the Physical Environment

Presentations from the Launch:

 Opening Address by Minister of State Ciaran Cuffe, TD

 The Health Benefits for Children and Young People of Regular Physical Activity - Dr. John Devlin, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dept of Health & Children

 Presentation on the Position Paper - Lorraine Fitzsimons, PhD Candidate, Dublin City University

 Creating an Environment with a Positive Impact on Health - Neil Blackshaw, former Head of NHS London Healthy Urban Development Unit

 Green-Schools Travel - A Mechanism for Behavioural Change - Jane Hackett, National Manager, Green-Schools Travel

 Play and Open Space - Carol Barron, Lecturer. School of Nursing, Dublin City University  

The National Heart Alliance (NHA) and Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) are advocating for a more supportive environment for the promotion of physical activity, particularly among young people.

The NHA held it’s first-ever national consultation day on physical activity, young people and the physical environment in late 2006. A summary of the recommendations from the Consultation Day will be made public shortly.

A key part of the day was the presentation of an NHA paper summarising knowledge and evidence on the impact the physical environment has on physical activity and health in young people.

 Summary of Evidence - Physical Activity, Young People and the Physical Environment