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Change4Life - eat well, move more, live longer click here to download the pdf
July 2010 – local supporters e-bulletin

Dear John

Obesity is a major challenge for us to tackle - it reduces life expectancy and seriously affects the health of adults and children. If we're going to reduce the number of people who are overweight, we must all work together to create an environment that helps and supports people to make changes to their diet and levels of physical activity.

Some of you may have seen recent press coverage suggested that the Change4Life campaign is to be brought to cease. I wanted to reassure you that there are no plans to cease the Change4Life campaign. However, I did make clear in the speech that given the new financial climate I intend to pursue a new approach to the campaign - where investment by the taxpayer will be progressively scaled back and the commercial sector and charities are asked to provide more of the necessary direct investment in Change4Life to sustain the initiative.

A transcript of my speech is available here.

The work that Change4Life supporters are doing in communities, schools, early years settings and the NHS to achieve this has been, and remains incredible. I would personally like to thank you all for the contribution you have made to helping families eat well and move more. As a result, over the last 18 months, 440,000 families across the country have joined Change4Life, and over one million mothers tell us they have changed their children's diets and / or activity levels as a direct result of Change4Life.

Change4Life is made up of more than 200 commercial and public organisations and local supporters are joining the movement in their thousands. As of this month, 32,000 local supporters have joined Change4Life and that number continues to climb week on week. Grassroots support has proved crucial for the movement with our local supporters estimated to have had around 1.5 million conversations with families about Change4Life.

It is clear that Change4Life is changing people's lives because of all the hard work you are doing. I hope that you will continue to work with us on this important issue of helping people improve their health.

Andrew Lansley CBE MP
Secretary of State for Health

Have fun with our 'Fun Wheels' Competition! Share your stories
Read on to find out how to get your hands on this season's must have: the new Change4Life fun wheel. Stories win prizes! Share your Chage4Life event or activity with us for a chance to win some fantastic Change4Life goodies.
Helping you help families Change4Life Play4Life Schools Challenge
Take a look at our updated Tools section on the website and our new materials for employers and schools. Read more. Find out how primary school children can take advantage of FREE play sessions, courtesy of the Play Providers Association and Play4Life. Read more.
National partner activities to look out for
Find out how some of the UK's biggest brands will be supporting families Change4Life this summer. Read more
 
Click here to download the pdf

 
 
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Finally, thank you again for your ongoing support for Change4Life. We'll be back with more news in the next update – look out for it in your inbox next month.


Your Change4Life Team
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