Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed new investment in local public health priorities across Wolverhampton. The Government is investing £3 million to help people across the city lead healthier, happier lives. It includes piloting a new app to put people in control of their own health. The Better Health: Rewards app will be piloted for six months in Wolverhampton as part of efforts to explore how technology can help people to improve their health and prevent conditions such as cardiovascular disease, strokes, and cancer.
All adults in Wolverhampton will be invited to download the free app, order a fitness tracker, and get access to physical activity and nutrition goals. By completing simple actions in the app, users can unlock rewards such as money off food shopping in supermarkets, day passes at local gyms, gift cards for high street brands, cinema tickets, and much more. It is hoped 51,600 adults in Wolverhampton will download the app. A pop-up skip will be located at in the Mander Shopping Centre on 18 Queen Square, WV1 1TQ.
It is part of a wider package of investment in improving public health. The City of Wolverhampton Council has also been allocated more than £21 million from the public health grant for improving the health of their local population and reducing health inequalities. This can include initiatives targeted towards the prevention of ill health and essential frontline services such as child health visits, drug treatment, and sexual health services. In addition, the city has been allocated more than £1 million to improve local drug and alcohol treatment and recovery systems, delivering on the Government’s 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives.
Adults aged over 18 who live in Wolverhampton can sign up by downloading the Better Health: Rewards app via their app store, or they can search wolverhampton.gov.uk/rewards to find out more.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “Improving the health of our nation is an integral part of our plan to unleash Britain’s potential. That’s why I welcome this multi-million pound investment for Wolverhampton, which will help to tackle public health priorities in our city, such as obesity. The Better Health: Rewards app will place our citizens in control of their own health by making it easier to choose healthy food options and staying active for longer. It will be complemented by more than £21 million to tackle local health inequalities.”
The Minister for Primary Care and Public Health Neil O'Brien MP said: “We are committed to helping people lead healthier, happier lives and the Better Health: Rewards app aims to put people in control of their own health. The pilot will test the role that rewards and incentives can play alongside technology in making it easier for people to eat better and increase physical activity and I look forward to seeing the results. If you live in Wolverhampton, please do not hesitate to sign up.”