The overarching function of the Network will be to act as a European-wide communications and expertise resource concerning public health policy and practice in relation to sports stadia. The Network will update members on latest news and events, to share examples of good practice, advocate on key public health issues and signpost members to resources and experts within the field.

The core aim of the Network will be to expand the programme’s initial work by recruiting new Network members (stadia and intermediary agencies) and to expand the geographical reach of these activities within Europe. Key objectives include:

• Promoting the Healthy Stadia concept, good practice and benefits of Network membership to sports stadia, governing bodies of sport and public health agencies across Europe
• Improving levels of health and wellbeing through sport and stadia environments, by supporting clubs and stadia to form successful partnerships with local services providers (health agencies, local authorities, transport providers) to roll out healthy initiatives
• Expansion of Network across Europe to include new countries through recruitment of focal point agencies representing Healthy Stadia Network at national level
• Collation and dissemination of new developments, Network documents and case studies
• Supporting national governing bodies of sport and leagues / rights holders, to develop public health policies and strategies as part of their commitment to the social responsibility agenda
• Awareness raising of Healthy Stadia concept and Network to large scale sporting events
  (London 2012; UEFA EURO 2012/2016), and relationship building.

Guidance and Health Consultancy

To help achieve these aims, the Network has developed a Healthy Stadia guidance framework to help guide clubs and stadia through the relevant steps that are necessary to bring representatives together from key organisations (clubs, governing bodies, stadium users and local agencies) to implement healthy initiatives. In addition, we have also produced a growing library of case studies and examples of best practice under the themes of ‘Lifestyle’, ‘Social’ and ‘Environmental’, and these will be added to on a regular basis.

The Network is also able to provide specialist ‘on the ground’ and policy support to sports stadia through our public health consultancy partners, HM Partnerships. To find out more about this support service, please click through to the Health consultancy section of the site.