- New research highlights significant inactivity levels for those living in Manchester
- Over 3/4 (75%) of residents aren’t reaching the NHS’s recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, with 37% of local respondents not dedicating any time to vigorous exercise in the past 12 months
- Key motivators to move include improving fitness levels, sleeping better and positive impacts to mental wellbeing
- Partnership aims to support elite sporting talent in success, as well as tackling inequalities in the North West region
Manchester Thunder are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with the UK’s largest healthcare charity, Nuffield Health, to support elite sporting talent and engage local communities with physical activity.
Nuffield Health has been announced as the Official Health and Wellbeing Partner of Manchester Thunder, reflecting the Club’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of its players. The partnership will be implemented through the exclusive use of Nuffield Health’s world class facilities within the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance (MIHP). Manchester Thunder will gain access to its advanced facilities, featuring game-ready recovery equipment, hydrotherapy sessions, and gym facilities.
With Nuffield Health’s Healthier Nation Index revealing over 3/4 (75%) of those living in Manchester aren’t reaching the NHS’s recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week – with locals moving, on average, just 82 minutes per week – and over 1 in 3 (37%) dedicating no time to vigorous exercise in the past 12 months, one of the key focusses for this partnership extends beyond the sporting arena.
With motivators to move in the community including wanting to be a healthy weight (34%), improved fitness or staying fit as they get older (33%), sleeping better (32%) and to improve their mental wellbeing 28%, both organisations will be working together through community-based projects to reach those with unmet health needs to identify and address health inequalities in the North-West region.
By securing the support of Nuffield Health’s extensive resources and expertise across a breadth of health and wellbeing services, this partnership also represents another major step in Manchester Thunder’s journey towards full professionalism. The collaboration with Nuffield Health is poised to play a pivotal role in strengthening the Club’s capacity to nurture its athletes and propel their talents to new heights, promising an even more thrilling experience for fans.
Gary Young, Manchester Thunder’s Commercial Director said, “In reality, Nuffield Health’s team at MIHP have been our health and wellbeing partners of choice for a number of years. I’m absolutely delighted to have been able to formalise this relationship into a strategic partnership and am looking forward to exploring how we can work to not only support the needs of our athletes, but also make a difference to the communities we serve.”
Andy Scott, General Manager of the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance added, “We’re excited to be partnering with Manchester Thunder to not only support the team and help them build on their successes, but also to tackle the disengagement and inequalities in the local community. The findings from our Healthier Nation Index show that change needs to happen, and we want to utilise the positive impact local teams, alongside sporting role models, have on communities to engage more people with physical activity to address these statistics. Through our collaborative efforts, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of individuals across the region.”