Healthy attitude for Lancaster

The concept of healthy body, healthy mind took a step forward last week with the formal launch of a scheme to turn Lancaster University into a healthy and environmentally-pleasing campus.

The Health Promoting University Project embraces the philosophy of the World Health Organisation that healthy living is the product of a person's social, cultural and environmental surroundings and not just a biological state.

The project aims to incorporate a positive health ethos into the routine policy-making structures of the university Under the scheme, being funded for two years by the North West Regional Health Authority, all university facilities are under review. Issues like staff stress, student poverty, housing conditions and low income are also being addressed, according to project co-ordinator, Gina Dowding.

Actively involved in the project are the university's pro vice-chancellor and eight academics from a range of faculties. They are divided into three working groups.