PEOPLE in Craven are being asked to take part in a survey aimed at finding out how often they exercise and what would encourage them to do more physical activity.

An eight week-long consultation -Let's Talk Active - which aims to build a picture of physical activity across the whole of North Yorkshire started earlier this month and runs until November 4.

It aims to find out what people take part in now, and what they would like to see available in the future.

The findings of the survey will be used to help develop leisure facilities and community-based sport and leisure provision. Amongst the questions asked are how happy people are with their current level of activity and how content they are with opportunities to be active.

They are also asked how many days a week they do 30 minutes or more of physical activity and whether they take part in a variety of exercise such as climbing, walking, swimming or fitness classes.

There is also a section on which leisure centres people use - including Skipton's Craven Leisure - and how often; and what they could offer to encourage people to use them more.

North Yorkshire Council’s new Active North Yorkshire (ANY) brand came into play at the start of this month when two of its leisure centres – in Selby and Tadcaster – were brought under the umbrella.

The new ANY service will take a stronger focus on health and wellbeing and aims to support more people to be active, especially those who may need more help and those who don’t currently use the leisure service.

The council owned Craven Leisure, in Aireville Park, Skipton, will adopt the new Active North Yorkshire identity later this year.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for leisure, Cllr Simon Myers, (Con, Mid-Craven) said: “Through this survey we hope to find out how people keep active, what is important about being active and any barriers they face.

“We realise not everyone will use our centres to keep active so in order to build a full picture of physical activity in the community, it’s also important to find out about individual or team sports or activities like walking or cycling.

“And for those who do use the centres we want to know about their experience there, the strengths and where they can improve. For those who don’t use them we want to know why. This will help us to develop our services for the future.”

He said that there could be more need for help for people with long-term health conditions and where more specialised equipment, tailored health and wellbeing programmes, or more accessible facilities are needed. Centres may also be able to offer a broader range of support such as health checks, nutritional advice, or mental health services.

North Yorkshire Sport’s chief executive, David Watson, said changes can only be made if people say what they want.

“It is vital that everyone finds a way to keep active and by completing this survey they can help shape future services provided by the council as they bring the county’s leisure operations in-house.

“Targeting locally-based activities and services will open up opportunities for more people of all ages and abilities, especially those in remote locations where travel to the larger hubs is an issue.”

Up until now the leisure centres have been managed by five different operators in the former district council areas. They will move to be part of Active North Yorkshire in phases, operated by North Yorkshire Council as active wellbeing hubs.

To access Let's Talk Active, go to www.northyorks.gov.uk/LetsTalk; paper copies are also available from libraries, leisure centres or from the council offices in Belle Vue Square, Broughton Road, Skipton.

People can also phone: 0300 131 2 131 to request a survey - when prompted say ‘Let’s Talk’; or by email: LetsTalk@northyorks.gov.uk Accessible formats of the survey are available on request.

Officers will also be available to listen to views and answer questions in person at events across the county in September and October. See the council's website for dates.