£30m healthy towns kick start Change4life

The "Healthy Towns" - Dudley, Halifax (Calderdale), Sheffield, Tower Hamlets, Thetford, Middlesbrough, Manchester, Tewkesbury and Portsmouth - are part of a new coalition called Change4Life which is backed by Government, food retailers, charities and community groups. The nine towns will share a £30 million pot from Government to encourage healthy lifestyles through increasing the opportunities for their population to be more physically active and make healthy food choices. They will help residents to live healthily through a holistic approach to promoting physical activity both in the community and the infrastructure of the town. The towns, which have been through a rigorous selection progress, will match the Government funding and have set out pledges around how they will encourage healthy living. The plans include: * a Points4Life loyalty scheme in Manchester which will reward people with free activities or healthy food when they take exercise; * a 'Cycle Recycle' project in Thetford which helps people to cycle more and maintain their bikes; * a new 'urban garden' in Tewkesbury which will help residents keep fit and rebuild green spaces in the wake of last year's floods; * a new award scheme for healthy food in fast food outlets, cafes, restaurants and shops, targeting those on 'High Street 2012' - the route that leads to the Olympic Park - in Tower Hamlets; * a "Let's Go Outside" project in Dudley which will transform parks and play areas into family health hubs; * urban farms and junior health trainer programmes in Middlesbrough; * a grow your own fruit and veg scheme for social housing tenants in Halifax (Calderdale); * making Sheffield a breastfeeding friendly city; and * new signage to help walkers, runners or cyclists time themselves when exercising in Portsmouth. Alan Johnson said: "Obesity is the biggest health challenge we face - every year 9,000 people die prematurely and a third of 11 and 12 year olds are overweight. "For the first time we've given nine areas "Healthy Town" status. This means they must promote healthy living. Each town has come up with innovative ways - such as a loyalty schemes or cycling projects - to help their residents to be more active. "Healthy Towns" is just the start. Our aim is to create a healthy England."