2010 is Liverpool and the City Region’s Year of Health and Wellbeing. Following on from the success of the 2008 Capital of Culture year, one of the key aims of 2010 is to lay the foundations for developing new, innovative ways of linking arts, sport and culture with health as a means of improving the health and wellbeing of communities. These foundations will be built upon over the coming years as we look forward to the London Olympics and Cultural Olympiad in 2012, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the potential for England to host the 2018 World Cup.

The key messages that underpin Liverpool’s year of Health and Wellbeing are the 5 Ways to Wellbeing - Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, Give - deriving from the New Economics Foundation’s Foresight report and recognised as a legitimate way of increasing life expectancy by up to 7.5 years.

A programme for the year has been developed following a period of engagement with communities and organisations from all sectors across Liverpool. This programme provides opportunities for people to learn about the 5 ways to wellbeing, but more importantly to build the 5 ways into their lives, whether that be through walking, singing, cycling, dancing, volunteering or learning – this is a programme where there is truly something for everyone.

2011 has now been earmarked as the Northwest Region of England’s Year of Health and Wellbeing and Liverpool’s work will continue to gather pace and position the City as having a key contribution to make to some of the major sporting and cultural events that the Country is set to host.

For more information visit www.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk or contact John Marsden, Head of Neighbourhood Delivery at Liverpool Primary Care Trust This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it