MHF to explore how sport can help health

The MHF is teaming up with the Federation of Stadium Communities to research into how sport can be used to help communicate health messages to men.

At the Men's Health and Sport Symposium held at Manchester City Football Club last month, it was agreed to establish a programme of research to map existing activity and develop models of good practice and guidance for PCTs and other health agencies.

Over 60 professionals from the world of health promotion and public health and representatives from the community programmes of some of the largest sports clubs in the country heard presentations from practitioners explaining how they had engaged with men through the medium of sport even around challenging issues such as mental and sexual health.

MHF Director of Operations Stephen Sibbald said: 'The event was a great success. It is clear from the presentations we heard that sport can provide a very tangible vehicle for engaging with men around a range of health issues, things they would never dream of talking about in traditional health settings.

'With the Olympics in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in 2014, together with our own NMHW 2010 which will focus on men and physical activity, the timing has never been better to undertake this important research.'

• A report of the day's findings will be available shortly as will video interviews with MHF CEO Peter Baker and Judy Crabb of the Federation of Stadium Communities.
• Federation of Stadium Communities website