New partnership to promote healthy lifestyles

A new partnership has been formed to promote healthy lifestyles.

Be Healthy Bucks has teamed up with Aylesbury United Football Club to support community health initiatives across Buckinghamshire.

The collaboration, named Be Healthy Bucks Pitchside, will consist of a joint calendar of events aimed at encouraging healthier living for thousands of people in the county.

The first event, a Community Day, is set to take place at the club’s football grounds in Chesham on March 22.

The free event will offer a range of family and child-friendly activities throughout the day, including a half-time crossbar challenge featuring a cigarette mascot.

Other events planned for the year include Aylesbury’s Easter Duck Trail in April, a Father’s Day event in June, and the Aylesbury Parklife Weekend in August.

Owain Johns, service manager for Be Healthy Bucks at Maximus, said: “Be Healthy Bucks provides free support, advice and techniques that help people in Buckinghamshire to live healthier lives.

“We’re excited to be working in partnership with Aylesbury United Football Club over the next 12 months, as their passion to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community directly aligns with the ongoing mission of the Be Healthy Bucks service.”

Be Healthy Bucks, commissioned by Buckinghamshire Council and delivered by Maximus, has been supporting Buckinghamshire residents to make healthier choices since April 2023.

The service offers help to quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, access a free NHS health check, manage weight, or eat more healthily.

Dave Brown, director of commercial, marketing and sponsorship at Aylesbury United Football Club, said: “We are excited to announce our new Pitchside partnership with Be Healthy Bucks.

“Their dedication to promoting healthier lifestyles and creating positive social impact within the local community aligns perfectly with our own commitment to Aylesbury, our supporters, and our partners.

“This partnership, centred around the local community, marks another significant milestone in our journey back to our rightful home in Aylesbury.”

Be Healthy Bucks offers Buckinghamshire residents access to a free healthy lifestyle service, supporting local people to make positive behaviour changes through a range of services.

The service will provide five years of behaviour change interventions, delivered in-person and virtually.

Maximus, the organisation behind Be Healthy Bucks, delivers services that support more than three million people each year in the UK.

Operating from more than 285 locations, Maximus delivers services across assessments, citizen services, and customer experience.

It is one of the largest providers of employment, health and disability support services in the country, employing more than 5,000 specialists, including more than 1,000 employment advisors and 1,400 healthcare professionals.