A Cumbrian woman has been named as the UK’s Physical Activity Hero at a recent awards ceremony.
Danii Vipond Houghton, GLL health & communities manager for Cumbria, based at Kendal Leisure Centre, won the ukactive award this week.
She was nominated in the category for her work and outstanding results in improving health outcomes for local people through sport and physical activity.
Working closely with the GLL Westmorland and Furness team, Danii, of Burneside, near Kendal, has played an instrumental role in successfully increasing the number of those accessing the Healthwise programme from 26 to 630 people in two years.
She has also helped to attract more than 5,000 new people into exercise and raised over £150,000 to support the sustainability of leisure services.
Danii said: “Winning such a prestigious national award and having my work celebrated is a huge honour for me – I’m still reeling from the excitement of the evening.
“Coming together with so many incredibly dedicated health professionals from across the UK to acknowledge the fantastic strides we are making collectively to support people to live longer, and healthier lives was so inspiring.
“I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved in Cumbria, in conjunction with our partners, and I am thrilled that our work has been recognised by the local community. I’m looking forward to supporting even more people to embrace exercise, get more active and lead happier and healthier lives.”
Following the co-location of the NHS MSK department to Kendal Leisure Centre in 2022, Danii set up the Healthwise Physical Activity pathway for those living with a health conditions including those related to pain, reduced activity levels and impaired mobility, referred by the NHS for ‘exercise on prescription’.
She works in partnership with Age UK, the Local Authority, north and South Cumbria NHS health trusts and others, to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for local communities.
Danii also works locally to inspire those who think exercise is ‘not for them’ and is responsible for many elderly swimmers successfully getting back in the pool – improving their mobility and mood.
NHS in Cumbria reports a £150,000 saving on hospital admissions and GLL reports £3.4m generated in social value as a direct result of its interventions in the region.
Graduating with a degree in sport, physical activity and Health from Leeds Beckett University, Danii first worked with Leeds City Council and Lancaster City Council delivering physical activity schemes.
She began work with GLL as a healthwise facilitator in 2021.
