Points4Life
What is Points4Life?
Points4Life has been created by Manchester City Council and Manchester NHS. It is a new loyalty programme which will encourage people to be healthier. It will take knowledge, learnings and technology from the private sector, where many loyalty programmes run very successfully and apply them to the public sector. Through the use of government, local authority and private sector funding Points4Life will encourage Mancunians to be healthier in a range of ways including what they eat and doing more exercise.
I understand Manchester has been designated as a Healthy Town, what does this mean?
View the Department of Health's Healthy Community Challenge Fund which gives full details of what the Healthy Towns initiative is all about and the process that has been conducted. Manchester’s proposal was successful and as such Manchester will now be known as a “Healthy Town”.
Is Points4Life connected with the government programme Change4Life?
Yes, Points4Life is connected to Change4Life. Points4Life is formally a sub-brand of Change4Life and as such the look and feel will be very similar. Points4Life has been granted permission to utilise the sub-brand because the goals of the two programmes are very similar; that is to eat well, move more and to live longer. For more information on Change4Life please view the Change4Life frequently asked questions and also look to the Change4Life website which is at this web address: http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life
How will Points4Life work?
It will work in the same way as many of the well known loyalty schemes in the market today – ‘Points make Prizes’. Members of the public will join the scheme and will then use their loyalty card to collect points. They will then be able to redeem those points for “healthy” products and services.
When does it start?
The scheme will be launched to the public in early spring 2010.
Who decides what businesses qualify?
Details of how this will work are still being defined and will be announced in due course.
Why do we need it?
Britain is in the grip of an epidemic. Almost two thirds of adults and a third of children are either overweight or obese, and work by the Government Office for Science’s Foresight programme suggests that, without action, these figures will rise to almost nine in ten adults and two thirds of children by 2050. The City Council and NHS Manchester have recognised that this could cause major health problems for Mancurians and thus have created this innovative programme to try to encourage more people to be healthy through both what they eat and exercise.
What sort of things will I get points for?
There will be a broad range of products and services available through the scheme. Food, Drink and Exercise related products and services are obvious, but there will be hundreds of opportunities to collect points from both the public and potentially the private sector.
Will I be penalised by my local NHS for not being a member of Points 4 Life?
No, certainly not.
What sort of rewards are on offer, and what will it take to earn them?
The rewards on offer will range from free swimming pool access and use of sports centres to sports equipment from a catalogue of goods.
I live in Warrington. Will I be eligible to join?
If you work in Manchester or travel into Manchester often then it would make sense for you to join the scheme; positive health choices are encouraged for everyone.
Will Points4Life be launching in other areas of the country?
As Alan Johnson, Minister for Health has stated Points4Life will initially be launched in Manchester. Once its effectiveness is proven then other areas may choose to launch similar programmes.
Where will I be able to earn points?
Many City Council and NHS Manchester activities will allow you to earn points and it is planned that there will also be private sector retailers involved in the programme where when you purchse ‘Healthy’ goods you will earn points e.g. Fruit and Vegetables. As the scheme develops there will be more and more partners joining the scheme that are both local and national organisations.
Questions from the Private Sector/Merchants:
What is the plan for introducing the scheme (process activities, timetable)?
Information will soon be made available through the press, and various channels including the Points4Life website detailing the process that private sector businesses should follow to join the scheme. These processes will be kept simple. It is envisaged that merchants will be invited to join the scheme from April 09 onwards.
How do I become involved?
Visit the website and follow the online instructions from the spring of 2009.
What will be the key benefits to me as a business?
Consumers will actively look to shop in your store in order to earn points.
What are the technical requirements for me to take part?
More information on this will be available in due course but we will be making it as easy as possible.
Will I be able to obtain exclusivity for my industry?
No, any qualifying business will be able to take part.
Questions from the Potential Suppliers:
How can I supply services to help deliver the Manchester Points4Life Programme?
An OJEU pre-identification notice has already been published; Number: 272551-2008. For more information about this pin go to the OJEU Tenders Electonic Daily webiste. There will be a wide range of services and support requirements from the private sector. Visit www.points4lifeojeu.co.uk for more information.