West Ham United’s Foundation has been shortlisted for the prestigious BT Sport Industry Awards ‘Community Programme of the Year’ for their innovative 150Club Community Prescription Programme.
The Foundation, which serves as West Ham United’s outreach arm in the community, received official confirmation this morning (Thursday) from the Sport Industry Group. The award was open to organisations with a programme or campaign that benefits the community it serves through sport.
Taking its name from the recommended amount of 150 minutes of exercise people should take per week, the 150Club Newham Community Prescription programme works to tackle high rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Newham by helping people to stay healthier. The borough has the second highest predicted prevalence rate of Type 2 diabetes in England, with more than 24, 500 of residents currently diagnosed with diabetes.
By working in a ground-breaking partnership with NHS Newham CCG, Newham Council and the Staywell Partnership, West Ham United use the power of football and sport over the 24-week community prescription programme to inspire local residents who would otherwise be uncomfortable discussing their health and making changes to their lifestyle.
The programme has already made waves. From being recognised by the NHS Confederation at a Parliamentary Reception in October 2017, to being covered on ITV News and more – the 150Club’s results have spoken for themselves. With more than 170 participants completing the programme, thousands of attendances at physical activity sessions and over a dozen different organisations now involved in the delivery of activities, the programme has gone from strength to strength.
Speaking about the nomination, Joseph Lyons, Chief Executive of the West Ham United Foundation said, “I am incredibly proud that the 150Club has been nominated for this prestigious award. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all our partners that we work with on this fantastic programme."
"The 150Club is all about local organisations coming together for the greater good of the borough, and between all those involved, we have such an array of expertise to draw upon to really tackle the levels of diabetes in Newham.”
Wayne Farah, Vice Chair of NHS Newham CCG said, “We are delighted that the 150Club has been recognised in this way. As a CCG we are committed to community ownership of health. This approach allows us to develop effective partnership with local people to deliver community led solutions that improve health and wellbeing in Newham."
"We are delighted that our innovative partnership with the West Ham United Foundation and Staywell Partners has been recognised by the sports industry. It is delivering significant health improvement in Newham and outperforming some nationally recognised diabetes prevention programmes. We hope this recognition will inspire others in the NHS to recognise the power of community involvement and physical activity in promoting health."
Councillor Clive Furness, Mayoral Advisor for Adults and Health at Newham Council said, “It is fantastic that this partnership initiative between the council, NHS Newham CCG and West Ham has been recognised for the difference it is making to the lives of local people. The 150Club offers our community a friendly environment where they can get fit and active and we’re hoping that our project can win the award!”
The BT Sport Industry Awards are the largest commercial sports awards in the world, taking place at Battersea Evolution in London, on Thursday 26 April 2018.
Bringing together sports stars, celebrities, senior decision makers, influencers and global media, the industry’s most anticipated night of the year celebrates the very best work from across the sector. The famous trophies are awarded on-stage in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,700 guests at the star-studded event, held annually in London.