FOLLOWING its success in Wadebridge, a further fully funded Keep It In The Family scheme was launched in Bude on Monday. The project is free of charge and is aimed at providing a fun and friendly approach to helping local families feel healthy by being more active and eating an improved diet.
The Keep it in the family scheme is delivered by local social enterprise ExHale on behalf of Cornwall Council and helps families with specific concerns about being overweight or inactive. It begins with an initial 10-week MEND weight management programme in collaboration with Poltair Sports Partnership followed by further activities and easy going fun
experiences.
Places are limited and available to families with children aged between 9-13 years. Sessions will be held at Budehaven Community School, Valley Road, Bude.
The initial programme is made up of two-hour sessions held twice a week for 10 weeks, where
practical lessons on eating and exercise habits aim to improve children's fitness, physical activity levels, nutrition and self-esteem.
Included in the project are visits to Bude Splash Leisure Pool, where children can be active whilst having fun in the water. The beach style pool encourages the whole family to join in the fun, even if they are only paddling. The Keep It In The Family project also offers exciting additional activities including some 'extreme sports' for the whole
family using local
facilities and the local coast and countryside.
Niky Dix, Keep It In The Family project
co-ordinator, said: "We know that there are many concerns about increased levels of obesity in families, which can reduce both quality and length of life. Our approach is to encourage and promote a transformed sustainable lifestyle by simply building strong relationships over a number of months with a fun, friendly and encouraging environment.
"This is a great time of year to start getting active as the weather gets warmer and we all start planning for the summer holidays. The MEND Programme component shows families ways to make practical, positive changes to what they eat and get fitter and more active whilst having lots of fun, whilst the Keep It In The Family enables access to more adventurous activities for parents and children alike — there is something for the whole family."
Geoff Samuels, Cornwall Council Community Leisure Officer commented: "This is a great innovative scheme designed by our award-winning community leisure service. Our community's health is a focus for the council and it is hoped that the pilot in Bude will be successful and will be able to continue well beyond the initial funding period."
To register or for more information, contact Niky Dix on 07791 837268 or email [email protected]">[email protected]. Alternatively, contact MEND on Freephone 0800 2300263, or go to http://www.mendprogramme.org">www.mendprogramme.org and click on 'Sign up to a MEND Programme.' A parent or carer must accompany each child to the twice weekly sessions and places must be booked in advance.