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Sport and fitness for today’s youth
October 2009 £2.75
Community call made to Welsh schools SCHOOLS in Wales are being urged to open up their sports facilities for community use. The Sports Council for Wales has launched a new campaign to utilise more public facilities in the fight against childhood obesity and inactivity. The initiative follows concerns about the country’s position at the head of the league of obese nations with some of the highest obesity rates for young people in the world. Official figures show almost half of all children in Wales – 45 per cent – do not meet the Government guidelines of an hour of exercise five times a week or more. However, the council believes that schools can play a central role in improving children’s physical activity rates and the country’s overall health. Huw Jones, Sports Council for Wales chief executive, said: “We know that maximising school facilities might not be the solution for every local authority but where communities are in need of local facilities on their doorstep such as clubs with busy junior sections, it could be a massive help.” It is also hoped that opening up school facilities after hours will alleviate parents’ fears about stranger dan-
gers and encourage them to let their kids play outdoors. Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary of the British Medical Association, said:"It's essential to get kids moving and opening up school playing fields will increase the safe areas where they can play out of school hours. “In deprived areas, many parents are scared to let their children go outside because the roads are so busy, and in many communities there are the additional dangers of unsafe environments. This campaign is a step in the right direction.” The council has praised those schools which have already opened up their facilities to the community and is hoping to advise other schools who wish to follow suit. Porth County Community School in Rhondda Cynon Taf is one example, running an extra curricular programme known as E3+. From Monday evening through to Saturday the school hosts Cardiff City FC Academy training and swimming lessons for children as young as three. A range of other sessions are also offered in term time and holidays including basketball, cricket and canoeing skills in the pool.
More play brings more rest
Star of TV’s Gladiators, Sam Bond aka Atlas, has joined forces with Shokk to help inspire more young people get fit. He will be working with the team to further develop the company’s strength conditioning training and equipment. Sam’s aim is to reduce the stigma attached to weight training, especially in the youth market, and wants to use his power training approach to help motivate young people to achieve their fitness goals. He said: “I am really pleased to have been given the opportunity to help young people reach their potential. Weight training is a fantastic way for this younger demographic to stay healthy and increase their interest in a positive lifestyle. Effective training can be utilised in so many ways and help them develop through life and any chosen sport.”
A NEW study has found that the more active children are during the day, the faster they fall asleep at night. Researchers also found that children who fall asleep faster tend to stay asleep for longer. The study included 519 healthy seven year olds from New Zealand who were part of a larger study tracking their development since birth. The researchers found some took as little as 13 minutes to sleep, but others needed more than 40 minutes after going to bed. Children who were more physically active during the day fell asleep more quickly than their less active peers. On average, children took an extra three minutes to fall asleep for every hour they weren’t active and got one extra hour of sleep for every 11 minute drop in how long they took to get to sleep.
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Judo alternative offered to pupils in Scotland By Louise Cordell EVERY year five pupil in Scotland is to be offered Judo lessons as an alternative to traditional team sports. The scheme follows new investment of over £414,000 - pledged to develop the sport ahead of its return to the Commonwealth Games programme in Glasgow in 2014. SportScotland’s aim is to encourage participation in the sport at junior level, providing a different way of getting children physically active and inspiring another generation of judoka. The funding will also be used to appoint a talent development coach to work with athletes aged 12 to 19 as they set out on their competitive careers. The new post will provide professional support for young people on the first rung of the performance ladder and will also feed the most promising athletes into higher level performance development and delivery squads. Shona Robison, sports minister, said: “Giving every nine and ten year old in Scotland the chance to experience judo is a great way to encourage more young people to enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity. “The funding will help judo in
Contacts Group editor: Andrew Harrod – ah@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734639 Reporters: Louise Cordell – lcordell@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734694 Mary Ferguson – mf@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734712 Christina Eccles – ce@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734463 Dominic Musgrave – dm@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734407 Sales and marketing director: Tony Barry Sales and product manager: James Dickson jd@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734672
Scotland continue to succeed at the highest levels by building on the work that is already being done to provide coaching expertise, engage with young people and inspire them to lead active, healthy lives.” Two of Britain’s top judoka, Olympians Sarah Clark and Euan Burton, attended the launch of the initiative after training at the sport’s National Training Centre in Edinburgh. The scheme is the start of a new six year strategic plan for JudoScotland and the organisation has identified increasing participation and coach education as two key areas of development needed to grow the sport. The funding will be used to improve these areas as well as promoting success in the sport, including the achievements of Scotland’s high performance coach, Graham Randall, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and contributed to a team medal tally of ten. Jim Feenan, chairman of JudoScotland, has voiced his support for the new scheme and said: “We believe that the support received has the potential to benefit all those participating within the sport and will enable us to encourage more young Scots to give judo a try.”
www.futurefitness.uk.net Studio manager: Stewart Holt sth@whpl.net Deputy group editor: Judith Halkerston jhalkerston@whpl.net Circulation enquiries to: Kelly Tarff kt@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734695
Superactive superhero Sportacus helped launch a new dance class for children at a gym in Milton Keynes. The star of kids TV show LazyTown visited énergie Fitness club to take part in the class, designed for children from as young as 18 months. Sportacus took time out to visit the gym during rehearsals at a nearby theatre. Gary Corby, general manager at énergie Fitness, said: “Sportacus is a superb role model for kids, and adults. We were delighted he chose to come to énergie in his spare time and he’s welcome back anytime he’s not busy saving the world.”
Kids missing out on variety CHILDREN are missing out on the wide variety of traditional childhood games previous generations grew up on, according to a new study. The ‘Big Mothered Britain’ report, commissioned by Fruit Shoot, revealed that the increase in ‘ready made’ entertainment is leading to the loss of important childhood skills. It found that while 94 per cent of mothers skipped often when they were younger, only 24 per cent of girls today could say the same.
Other activities that are no longer popular include hopscotch, tree climbing and playing conkers. The report claimed: “Increased officialdom in today’s society has left children with a narrower repertoire of games to play and 74 per cent of parents are now concerned that overuse of readymade entertainment, such as computer consoles, restricts children from developing physical and social skills, when compared to the homemade games that they played.”
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Insight into weight issue for diabetics By Louise Cordell
Young Paralympic swimming hopefuls will have access to all GLL leisure centres across London thanks to sponsorship and training grants awarded by the GLL Sport Foundation. Meeting once a month to train at Mile End Leisure Centre, the squad includes international and top ten nationally ranked swimmers. GSF funded athlete ambassador and Paralympic swimmer, Dervis Konuralp, from Hackney is also a member of the squad. Coach Michelle Weltman said: “Having free access to GLL's training facilities and Paralympic sized swimming pools on our doorstep is key to the squad's training strategy. I hope that this support will help our swimmers achieve their potential as we work towards our goal of competing at the highest possible level in London in 2012.”
A NEW study has provided an insight into the weight problems faced by the growing number of children with type 1 diabetes. The findings of the ‘Search for Diabetes in Youth Study Group’ show that youths with type 1 diabetes, which is more prevalent in younger age groups, are more likely to be overweight than those without diabetes. Researchers from six clinical centres across the USA took part in the study, which compared data from 3,953 diabetics, aged between three and 19. Lead researcher, Dr Lenna Liu, said: “The links between type 2 diabetes and excess weight are well documented, but are less clear in type 1 diabetes, which affects less than ten per cent of people with diabetes, but is more common in children and young people. “Also, although traditionally a disease in overweight adults, type 2 diabetes is increasingly being seen in younger patients as childhood obesity levels increase.”
Key finding included the fact that white males aged from three to 11 with type 1 diabetes were more likely to be overweight or obese than females, but females were more likely to be overweight/obese when they were 12 to 19 years old. The study also showed that more than a fifth of the children and youths with type 1 diabetes were overweight, compared with ten per cent of those with type 2 and 16 per cent of those without the condition. Dr Liu added: “Knowing the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and young people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is very important as it helps us to identify those individuals, by age, gender or ethnicity, who face the greatest risk of the clinical complications associated with excess weight. “We feel that further studies are critical to help us to better understand how weight causes complications in the growing number of children and young people with diabetes and influences the diagnosis and treatment they receive.”
Tom Heeley
Work experience teen Tom lands lifeguard job A TEENAGER from Barnsley has been given a full-time job as a lifeguard after completing a work placement designed to give him a taster of the leisure industry. Tom Heeley was enrolled on the Entry to Employment programme with Barnsley Premier Leisure, which gives young people leaving school the chance to gain recognised qualifications in the industry. Joanne Loy, BPL’s training and development manager, said: “We are delighted to offer Tom a job within
our lifeguard team. “He really impressed us by being really eager to learn and enthusiastic about the leisure industry, as well as having a sensible and mature attitude to work. “Tom is the second lifeguard we have taken on through the E2E programme – it is a really good way for us to find new talent, as well as giving young people employment opportunities and a positive experience of a work environment.”
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Home secretary celebrates Hull health project By Louise Cordell SCHOOLCHILDREN in Hull have been visited by the Home Secretary to celebrate the success of their healthy living project. Shape Up Hull began last September and involved primary schools across the city, coordinated by the University of Hull. Pupils were challenged to research issues surrounding health in their school and community, and then come up with ways they could make improvements. They thought up ideas including sensory gardens to provide a calming retreat from busy school life, vegetable plots to teach pupils about healthy food and new playground equipment to encourage physical exercise. The pilot stage of the project has now ended and Alan Johnson, MP for Hull West and Hessle, attended the celebration event. He presented certificates to the children who had taken part in the scheme and said: “The work of Shape Up Hull and the University’s expertise in this area has been spreading the world about healthy living right
around Europe. “Children are our ambassadors to take the message about healthy diet and exercise back to parents and teachers.” The project is now due to be rolled out to more schools in Hull within the next year and to other countries including Oman and Australia in the near future. Jo Pike, Shape Up Hull coordinator and research assistant at the University’s Institute for Learning, said: “Essentially these projects have been driven by children who have identified what they feel are the barriers to health in their schools. “They have project managed themselves, including working out costs, and these actions are being put into place at the moment. “The government is introducing new indicators of well-being in September that will ask pupils about how well they feel the schools support their health and well-being and whether they feel they can influence decisions in school. “Shape Up Hull is already doing that - which puts us ahead of the game in terms of children’s health and learning.”
Lauren Potter, England U17s captain with pupils from Handsworth Grange School
Sport used to improve skills PUPILS in Sheffield have been using sport to improve their computer and communication skills. Students from two city schools took part in a six-week 'Communicating for Success' project at the English Institute of Sport. The scheme saw 14 year eight girls from Handsworth Grange Community Sports College take part in a netball-themed programme and 14 year six girls from Ballifield Primary School focus on volleyball. They took part in a range of activities including film and music production and DVD cover design as well as getting involved in coached
sports sessions with England U17 netball captain Lauren Potter and GB volleyball player Rachel Newton. Jakki Marshall, centre co-ordinator for Playing for Success at EIS Sheffield, said: “This project was a great success. Not only did the children thoroughly enjoy themselves but they also learned new skills at the same time. “The programme provided pupils with an opportunity to improve IT and communication skills and raise educational attainment, while also encouraging and inspiring them to participate in sport through playing, training and coaching.”
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Consultation seeks kids’ opinions MERSEYSIDE Sports Partnership has been carrying out Young People’s Consultations to find out the best new activities to introduce. Local kids have been asked what they would like to see on the Sports Unlimited programmes and where and when they would like to take part. The aim is to improve the investment being made in young people’s sport and improve figures for both participation and retention. Sam Avery of Funny Business has been delivering consultation workshops and said: “We’ve had a great response from the young people taking part, because we are taking the time to listen and will respond to their needs. “Our workshops are about understanding what motivates young people to participate; time; place and sport and the results will ultimately help the partnership to deliver the right activities in the right way.” The partnership will also be selecting activities based on the exit strategies that are in place for when the ten week programmes are over. Julie Leasor, community manager, said: “We are looking for coaches who already operate locally either through leisure centres, youth centres or sports clubs.”
Get active pilot is a success A PROGRAMME providing opportunities for parents and children to take part in physical activity sessions together is to be rolled out across Doncaster after a successful pilot. After the success of the first sessions, the Get Active School Sport Partnership applied for funding to extend activities on offer to include mums and daughter health and physical activity sessions and dads and lads boxing fitness sessions. The scheme will run in 10 community centres across the area.
A recent report from chief medical officer Liam Donaldson called for children to be encouraged to use active computer consoles, such as the Nintendo Wii, to help tackle increasing rates of obesity. Louise Cordell reports.
Ben, Louis and Nathan play on the Nintendo Wii
Children should use active consoles more says study THIS method is already being used to encourage physical activity at The Whitminster Centre - part of the Cotswold and Stroud Pupil Referral Service. As part of the National Healthy Schools Programme initiative, the centre has been using games consoles to work with a number of young people who have no interest in sports, and is beginning to see promising results. Paul Barns, the centre’s PE specialist, believes that the consoles are beginning to change the pupils’ attitudes and behaviour towards taking part in physical activity. He said: “Last year, as part of our work with the National Healthy Schools Programme, we began introducing Nintendo Wiis and PSX dance mats for use during break times and lunch hours. “We wanted to provide opportunities that would encourage their participation and get them active, but at the same time offer something that they would enjoy.
“Many of the young people we deal with are ‘school phobic’ while others have been excluded from mainstream schools for behavioural issues. “Our aim was to get every child and young person doing at least two hours of physical activity a week during school hours, but because they attend our centre on a part-time basis and at different points throughout the week, timetabling issues meant that it was difficult for us to organise conventional group sports activities. “We also wanted to keep them engaged during lunch breaks so that they wouldn’t hang around in the nearby town centre.” The school conducted research by asking our children and young people what they liked to do in their spare time, and found that on average they spent 13.5 hours a week on computer games, which is a fairly sedentary activity. Paul added: “When we asked
them what activities we could introduce, there was massive enthusiasm for the introduction of Nintendo Wiis and PSX dance mats. “We decided to look at sports related games such as Tiger Woods Golf, Winter Olympic Games, Tennis, Football and Boxing - and each one proved a massive hit. “Our young people tell us that they find these activities highly motivating and enjoyable because they don’t ‘feel’ like they are exercising. “They are also easy to participate in for the short 15 minute slots during break time, as well as for longer organised sessions.” A ‘winners’ scoreboard’ is also used to encourage good behaviour and better social interaction. It works as a more effective way to discipline those pupils who have been excluded for behavioural problems through a system of withdrawing game privileges rather than using traditional punishments.
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The youth gym created at Park Leisure Centre took years of planning and research.
New youth gym leads to rise in number exercising By Louise Cordell THE construction of a new youth gym in Barrow-In-Furness has led to a huge increase in the number of children exercising. Park Leisure Centre decided to create the facility after years of planning and research, and twelve months after opening it is more successful than ever. The idea for the scheme came about when, due to a lack of youth facilities in the area, the club decided to organise some gym sessions for 11 to 16 year olds. The initial classes were held on Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm, while the gym was closed for normal public use. Ian Jones, club health and fitness officer, said: “We felt that this time would be best because the more
sporty children would already be taking part in activities as weekend afternoons are when most sports events and team games take place. “This meant that we would be attracting the less sporting, possibly overweight children and they would not feel intimidated or embarrassed.” The first few sessions were so well attended that a second slot had to be introduced on both days. Over the next six years more than 1,000 children were inducted into the gym and the club reached the conclusion that it wanted to take things to the next level - an independent gym for children, with the equipment scaled down to suit them. Club MAX finally opened in July 2008, equipped with specially adapted cardiovascular equipment and safe ‘water based’ resistance stations from Pulse.
It also features a gaming lightwall and a 20 mat interactive dance mat system - and this range of alternative activities means that, in contrast to most youth clubs, approximately 70 per cent of its users are girls and young women. Ian added: “Having been involved in this project since the beginning it was both satisfying yet at the same time a little frightening when it all came to fruition. “The immediate results put all the fears to rest and we look forward to continuing our good work. “The two most satisfying things are seeing the look of enjoyment on the children’s faces while they are taking part and also witnessing the number of children exercising who normally do not take part in any PE classes or any form of physical activity.”
All areas attracted THE Max Club’s approach to fitness has attracted young people from every area of the community. A local secondary school uses the gym regularly for disengaged pupils who are excluded from other lessons and college students now use the facilities as part of their BTec in Sports Science course. Teachers from a local special school have also found that sessions using the light wall and the dance mats are very beneficial for their autistic pupils. The club’s plans for the future include using its mobile interactive equipment to go into schools and deliver sessions to the children, because many local schools would like to use the facility but find that travel costs restrictive. The centre is also planning on increasing membership further by organising ‘referral campaigns’.
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Free swimming scheme to be spread further By Dominic Musgrave
Marc Woods
Scheme aims to make sport more accessible for disabled PE COACHES are set to benefit from a new initiative to make sport more accessible for disabled children around the UK. The Sports for All scheme has been set up by the Federation of Disability Sport and Typhoo Tea and will train 500 community based coaches to provide them with the skills needed to encourage disabled people to get involved in their specialist sport. Sir Geoff Hurst is backing the project as a brand ambassador to help raise awareness. He said: “I feel that this initiative is extremely worthwhile in helping to make a range of sports accessible to disabled people, enabling them to remain active and take part in everyday sport. “Exercise is something which many of us take for granted and something
which should be readily available to everyone - and this project is working hard to make this possible.” Children from Everton Football in the Community and members of the ladies and men’s deaf football squads, the Cerebral Palsy and blind and visually impaired squads attended the launch of the new scheme to show their support. Marc Woods, winner of 12 Paralympic medals, said: “As an athlete I was passionate about being the best I could be and the role that coaches played in my journey through sport was crucial. “I’m delighted to support the Sports for All programme and I’m sure it will have an impact on everyone from those just seeking to get more out of their sporting experience, right through to our future Paralympians.”
MORE young people around the UK could be getting the chance to take part in the Government’s free swimming initiative. Councils are being given a fresh opportunity to join the scheme, which has seen more than four million visits to pools by young people and senior citizens since it launched in April. Local authorities that are currently only offering the free sessions to the over 60s will be given the chance to provide them for under 16s as well and councils who are currently not participating in the scheme at all will be able to join up. Ben Bradshaw, secretary of state for culture, media and sport, said: “The free swimming initiative has been a huge success and most councils are working with us to make free access to locals pools a reality - with many of them injecting money themselves.
“However, a minority are not offering it at all and we want them to have a chance now – after seeing how successful it has been – to jump in and share the full benefits with their local communities.” The move to expand the scheme is aimed at the 69 councils in the country who are restricting the sessions to senior citizens, and at the 67 who are not taking part in the initiative at all. It has been announced that any councils offering free swimming for both age groups will now also be able to apply for a share of a capital modernisation fund of £25m to build new pools, or renovate existing ones in 2010/11. John Denham, communities secretary, added: “We want more people to swim for free, make friends and get fit in one go. “Councils now have a fresh chance to get in on the game under the free swimming scheme and let more kids and teenagers take part too.”
System wins national award CYBER Coach has won a National Business Award for Business Innovation in Northern Ireland and North England. The awards attract entries from companies in the public and private sector and the interactive dance and fitness system was top of its class.
Glen Jones, MD of Quick Holdings, the company behind Cyber Coach, said “We were absolutely delighted to win such a prestigious award, especially in view of the other finalists. “It is simply brilliant recognition for the amazing product that the Cyber Coach has become.”
A personal trainer at independent club Ripped Gym has come up with a new way of encouraging local youngsters to get fit. Michael Jordan, who is also a part time professional footballer, noticed a lack of concentration and motivation when training younger people, so came up with the idea of 'competition training'. Training in groups of no more than four, they are set five exercises which are performed either against the clock or by maximum weight achieved. The idea is that the youngsters will be motivated by competing against each other.
Bath tennis academy named in UK’s top four THE Team Bath Tennis Academy has been named one of the top four tennis training centres in the country. The academy, based at the University of Bath, was awarded International High Performance Centre status by the Lawn Tennis Association and is now recognised as an elite training venue, designed to support the country’s best senior and junior players. Barry Scollo, Team Bath’s director of tennis, said: “Our programme
enables us to provide a holistic training environment for our players. “Everything is in place at Team Bath for a world class tennis programme which can cater for all players from the mini tennis level to the international juniors/seniors game. “We look forward to building on our progress and working with the LTA to improve British tennis. “I hope to bring in another international standard coach by October
and also with the additional funding we have received to get a player into the world’s top 300.” The Academy’s new title also recognises the standard of the players currently using the facilities – including Somerset’s Richard Gabb, who is ranked number two in the country at the 18 and under boys level. The award is also expected to encourage more players of all ages to make use of the centre, playing a key role in pushing more British
players towards world success. Steven Martens, player director at the LTA, said: “I am delighted after three years of the current programme that TeamBath Tennis Academy has been awarded International High Performance Centre status. “This can only benefit the current thriving network of centres and offer even greater opportunities for the players.”
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news 9
University agrees deal with Japanese athletes
Fitness manager Yabba Mumford with general manager Dave West and director Mario Pederzolli
Celebrity gym teaches teens to stay healthy By Louise Cordell A LONDON gym that is visited by celebrities including Joe Calzaghe and Denise Lewis has been working with local teens to introduce them to a healthy lifestyle. Fit Rooms in Fulham has teamed up with Connexions for its Goals to Achievement initiative - a programme for under privileged young people who are not in education or employment. The club’s fitness manager, Yabba Mumford, created a nine week programme for 17 local teenagers to give them a taste of what attending a gym can be like, what can be achieved and how it can improve physical and mental health. Yabba said: “When we first met the teens involved, many of them had a lot of preconceptions about gyms and fitness in general, so we wanted to address those. “A few of the guys had used gyms before for weight training, but weren’t very informed about the other options available and how they could improve their health and fitness. “The girls thought that weight training was only for bulking up and that cardio work was just about running for long distances so it was great to be able to show them a different side of things.” The main aim behind the programme was to improve the participants’ personal health and, as many of them had a lot of free time, give them something productive to do when they were unoccupied. It was also about showing them some of the lifestyle improvements that could be made when they committed to participating regularly in an activity.
“When we first met the teens involved, many of them had a lot of preconceptions about gyms and fitness in general...” Yabba added: “I asked everyone taking part to complete a fitness test during the first week of the project so that they would be able to see the improvements that had been made at the end of the programme. “We also encouraged them to try out a range of classes, and many of them found that they became interested in activities that they had never expected to enjoy. “For example a lot of the girls were initially doubtful about the yoga sessions, but really enjoyed them and expressed an interest in keeping it up after the programme ended.” Yabba now hopes to be able to work with the teens who participated again in the future, especially for a more ‘work experience’ based programme. Her aim is to give them a look behind the scenes of the fitness industry and some ideas about all the different careers they could pursue. She added: “It would be great to be able to keep working with the teenagers who took part in the scheme, as well as running this initial programme again to give more young people the chance to take part. “I think the longer term these projects are, the better chance we have of making a difference and achieving better results.”
LOUGHBOROUGH University is set to join forces with Japanese Olympic athletes in a new training camp deal. The university and the Japanese Olympic Committee have signed a memorandum of understanding that will see both organisations working together until the London 2012 Games. Japan’s athletes and teams will be using university facilities in 15 separate sports, from athletics to weightlifting. Seb Coe, chair of the London 2012 organising committee, said: “Loughborough University has world class training facilities and it is excellent news that the Japanese National Olympic Committee have chosen to base themselves there in the run up to the London 2012 Games. “Hosting visiting teams is a great way for towns to get involved in our plans and there are many facilities available for teams to chose from throughout the UK.
“As someone who has studied and trained at Loughborough University, I know the Japanese team will have the best preparation possible for the London Games.” Japan will now be sending hundreds of athletes and staff to Loughborough over the next three years, and the university hopes to combine the programme with research and teaching activities to help raise its international profile. Shirley Pearce, Loughborough University’s vice chancellor, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce Japan as the major nation basing themselves at Loughborough in the run up to the London Games. “There will be major cultural, academic and economic benefits arising from working with Japan. “We are already in discussions to ensure university staff and students, the local community and the wider East Midlands all gain from this new relationship.”
Schools held in Wakefield LETS Get Healthy summer schools were set up in Wakefield to encourage kids to keep fit during the school holidays. Wakefield Council offered free places to children who receive free school dinners and NHS Wakefield
District Physical Activity Project offered subsidised places for everyone else at a cost of £5 per day or £20 per week. The programme helped kids to learn about healthy eating, physical activity and lifestyle.
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Quality equipment need not cost the earth By Sarah Watts, MD of Alliance Leisure THERE is no question that high quality fitness facilities will help to boost pupils’ enthusiasm for sport, leisure and fitness activities - both in and out of school hours. But top of the range fitness equipment in a bright, new environment doesn’t have to cost the earth. The key is making your existing space work harder. Do you have a classroom or other area that’s not in use all day, every day? Or perhaps an outdated sports hall that could do with revamping? Any area, a sports hall, squash court, office or storage zone, can be remodelled to provide 21st cen-
tury fitness facilities that can also generate added revenue streams for your school - particularly if you are willing to work with the local community. Case study: We redeveloped the dual use site at Newent Community School in the Forest of Dean, allowing both the pupils and community to benefit from a state of the art leisure centre. We converted the old changing rooms into a fitness suite and remodelled the old gym into new changing rooms for the swimming pool. We then added a steam room that sits on the side of the swimming pool and new offices for the PE department staff.
Campus’ pitch work begins WORK has started to develop three new floodlit five-a-side football pitches on the University of Reading’s Whiteknights campus. The pitches, which will be on the footprint of a current sports area near the Sports Park will provide the latest synthetic grass surface to allow students to use the facilities even during
the autumn and spring terms when previous grass pitches had become waterlogged. The pitches will also use the latest sports lighting, designed to concentrate the lighting on the pitches and not impact in the surrounding area or create skyglow.
The track at Abbeycroft Leisure Centre has been resurfaced
Leisure centre’s track resurfaced to attract kids A DUAL use leisure centre in Suffolk has invested in a new athletics track to help cater for local school children. Abbeycroft Leisure in Bury St Edmunds has recently completed a major resurfacing of its track, which enabled it to host a series of youth sports events throughout the summer holidays. Clare Maller, the centre’s assistant manager, said: “We held a launch event which was open to all local children to give them a chance to see what kind of activities we have on offer, which was a big success. “We have also been able to host the Suffolk Youth Games, which encourage young people from across the country to participate in new sports.” The leisure centre is used by ten
local schools that have priority over the facility during the day time and it is also used by two athletic clubs for training and practice. The centre puts on its own youth events for young people in the area including football day camps and gokarting, as well as working with the schools to help them organise PE sessions and after hours clubs. Clare added: “We are also now planning to adapt the track to make it more accessible for the disabled children who visit - for example by adding floor bolts for extra stability. “We are keen to do this as there are several special schools in the area who will be able to get more involved in a lot of different activities when the work has been done.”
Football club to offer its facilities to local schools OXFORD City Football Club has received permission to go ahead with a new scheme which will open up its facilities to local schools and colleges. Plans are now in place to extend the club’s Court Place Farm site, including the development of a full size, floodlit, third generation artificial grass pitch and new changing and community rooms. Also proposed within the scheme are six floodlit netball courts to be developed by the Oxfordshire Netball Board - which would fill a significant gap in county facilities. Over 30 local teams already use the existing football pitches, and the new grounds will provide much needed all-weather facilities for them, as well
as for schools and colleges during the daytime and evening. The new facilities will also play host to the Oxford Football Partnership, which brings together Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, Premier Sports Group and Oxford City FC, to provide a sports and learning environment for local 16 to 19 year olds. Chris Bevan, MD at Sports Solutions GB, which is managing the development, said: “We are delighted that planning permission for these much needed sports facilities has been granted. “Our team is looking forward to working with Oxford City FC and the stakeholders involved in this exciting project.”
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12 design and build
Contractor completes new centre COLLINSON have recently completed a new centre for netball at Soar Valley College, Leicester, which will host the netball element of the 2009 Special Olympics. Leicester Netball League wanted to increase the number of available courts and offer the option to play and train indoors. Utilising funding from Sport England, the local authority, Soar Valley College and the Local Netball Association, the league approached Soar Valley College. As the college and pupils would benefit from the facility the go-ahead was granted and the project began to take form. The task was then to find a quality structure within budget. After researching the market for affordable ‘tentlike’ buildings Collinson were selected. Ian Johnson, college business manager, said: “After visiting several sites, hearing word of mouth recommendations and dealing with the team the decision was made to go with Collinson and it has never been regretted.” Collinson undertook the project as principal contractor for design and build for the 1660m, two court netball hall. The minimal foundations and fast modular build resulted in the project being completed in just six months. Funds raised from hiring out the facility will also be used to increase awareness of netball and ensure maximum participation in ‘Return to Netball’ tournaments.
Dual use sites can offer better facilities and extra income By Ian Cotgrave, MD Createability MAKING a school site dual use, catering for both the curriculum and the local community, can bring in additional income and also offer pupils and staff better facilities. The additional revenue will cover development costs so your school and the community both benefit without additional cost implications. When looking at what’s needed to create a dual use site, it is important to consider whether specific areas are needed for each sector, such as a separate public entrance or a reception area designed for the local community. In some cases a separate gym can be created for public use and the sports halls and other facilities are made available to the public out of school hours. A good example is the £550,000 dual site created at Wyedean School in the Forest of
‘The refurbished gym and new studio has raised levels of interest in PE and given the school’s curriculum a real boost. Community use is significantly higher than we anticipated, as a result of the studio and sports hall, which provide a comprehensive activity mix that attracts a wider range of people’ Dean. An underused squash court was converted into a ground floor reception area and podstyle changing facilities and a mezzanine floor and DDA lift were added to complete a 30station fitness suite on the second floor. A nine-station dedicated children’s gym, which extends through into a class room/multipurpose room to support the National Curriculum was also added on the top floor.
Jonathan Bowdler, business development manager at Forest of Dean Council said: “The refurbished gym and new studio has raised levels of interest in PE and given the school’s curriculum a real boost. “Community use is significantly higher than we anticipated, as a result of the studio and sports hall, which provide a comprehensive activity mix that attracts a wider range of people.”
Sports hall demolished to make way for £4.3m leisure centre WORK has started on a new state-ofthe-art, £4.3m leisure centre for Carshalton College in London. The first phase of the project saw the demolition of the existing sports hall to make way for the construction of the new, purpose built facility. The project is expected to take 52 weeks to complete, with a planned opening date of summer 2010. The new centre will feature an 18m swimming pool, luxury thermal suite, sports hall, quality changing facilities, two dance studios and a 70 station fitness suite. Project partner Pulse will be invest-
ing £2.7m in the project and will be responsible for the design, build and operation of the new centre. Robin Greenaway, college vice principal, said: “We are extremely excited about the project and the new facilities it will provide to the students. “This is an important step forward in renewing our sports and recreation facilities. “It will be a superb mix of leisure facilities, that will benefit the college and wider community and Pulse providing a significant amount of investment helped to fast-track the whole process.”
First phase of redevelopment opens at Stockton-on-Tees centre THE Splash centre in Stockton-onTees has opened the first phase of its £2.4m redevelopment. Phase one of the project, being carried out by Tees Active and Stockton Borough Council, includes a new two-storey 72-station Technogym fitness suite, a large multi-use activity space, incorporating two badminton courts and ZigZag interactive stations and new changing rooms. Phase two will incorporate an extended foyer, new café with healthier offering and re-located reception area for the whole complex.
ZigZag Academy will provide training for the interactive zone, which includes two Sportwalls and eight wireless Xer-Dance platforms. The kit was chosen following feedback from a local school, after pupils took part in a taster day at another Tees Active site. Bob Cook, cabinet member for regeneration and transport at Stockton Borough Council said: “Our aim was to achieve a central leisure provision for the Borough and these fantastic new facilities within Splash will provide a first class opportunity for the residents.”
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news 13 Schools with talented sports pupils are set to receive extra funding thanks to a Youth Sport Trust scheme. Future Fitness found out more.
Trust funds STARS for second year THE STARS Squads project offers scholarships of £5,000 to help teachers develop some of the highest performing students in the country. The Youth Sport Trust has announced a second year of its STARS (Supporting Talented Athletes on the Road to Success) Squads initiative. The project works with schools to give high performing young sports people the best chance of national
The project offers teachers £5,000 to develop students
or even worldwide success. To apply, schools must have four athletes, aged 14 to 19, who are ranked in the top 20 in their sport and age group and be committed to supporting their training. Guin Batten, Youth Sports Trust head of operations, said: “The Trust has always tried to help talented young people with hardship needs. “So we wanted to go beyond that and think about how we could help schools support their talented pupils. “However, we were also interested in finding out what was going on at these schools who were producing clusters of very high achieving young people. “There is obviously something happening that is working, so we wanted to discover what that was, help them take if further, and help to spread this good practice around the country.” When the scheme was first introduced last year, 110 schools applied for the scholarship and the Trust found enough money to supply grants for 14 of these. The aim of recognising the schools is to be able to help them maximise the talent of their athletes as well as guiding the young people themselves and helping them to manage their responsibilities. Guin added: “Schools play a fun-
damentally important role in the development of our national and Olympic athletes. “However, I think that their role can sometimes be underestimated as people often only think about the coaching side - but there is a lot more to it and schools have a big part to play. “The point is that some of these kids will not go on to make it to the very top levels of achievement, but in trying to get there they will have lost out on some of the enjoyment of being a normal teenager. “A school can try and address that balance and help them to make the right decisions – young people need something to fall back on if their sporting career doesn’t work out.” However, Guin also pointed out that the Trust has come across many high achieving young people whose school knew nothing about their success, because pupils didn’t want to brag or be seen as ‘different’. She said: “Judging from last year’s programme, the real positives have been the pride the young people have felt at being recognised and being made part of an elite group. “On average they are training 15 to 17 hours a week - so there is real effort and achievement to be celebrated. “We want to help schools offer
these pupils the bespoke support that they need.” Once schools have been selected they will take part in a series of development days designed to help them improve their skills and share best practice with others in the programme. Practitioners and pupils will receive training from industry experts as well as specially created personal development plans. The schools will also be given guidance on the best ways to invest the scholarship funds. Last year the money was spent on projects including physiotherapy injury prevention sessions to help support the athletes’ individual performances and also on activities to bring together the support teams, including peers, parents and coaches. Guin added: “We found several similarities between the schools who had clusters of talented young people. “The main factor was not having the best or the most varied facilities, but was the willingness of these schools and of the practitioners to support the kids above and beyond their normal role. “They showed a real interest in their pupils and knew all the details about what they wanted to achieve and were committed to their sporting careers.”
University gets junior football team into shape TEESSIDE University has teamed up with a local under 15s football team, providing fitness testing and coaching to help them explore their athletic potential. The team are Norton and Stockton U15s, who will be working with three students who are completing their sport and exercise degree. The trio of student volunteers will be treating the team as live case studies as part of their coaching placement module and will also be going into sessions with the team to help out throughout the season. The partnership was started up by Paddy Hill, one of the team’s three
coaches. He contacted Matt Wright, a sports development officer in the University’s Sport and Well-being service, who in turn suggested working with students. Paddy said: “Matt’s been very keen so far and as football’s my passion I’m pleased this partnership is taking place. “I want to encourage young boys and girls to stay in sport even if they don’t make it as professional football players. “If they don’t become players their athleticism doesn’t disappear and there are social and educational sides
to sport. “This is a great link which allows the young footballers the opportunity to visit the University and gives them an understanding of sports science and performance preparation whilst giving the students valuable ‘real world’ experience working with a squad.” As well as coaching technique, the students will be showing the team what they need to do to achieve their best performance as athletes, looking at the importance of discipline and nutrition. It is also hoped that the partnership will show the young players that there are alternative career pathways they
can consider, including coaching, physiotherapy and refereeing. If this scheme is successful, the organisers plan to roll the initiative out to include the club’s younger players as well, starting with the 12 and 13 year old team members. Mark Hawkings, head of the sport and well-being service at the university, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for these young footballers to sample the excellent facilities here at the University. “It also gives us the opportunity to showcase the skills of our students in supporting this type of activity.”
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14 news
Schools opt for more specialist PE teachers SCHOOLS are hiring more specialist PE teachers than history teachers according to the latest figures. A new staffing survey has revealed that specialist PE teachers outnumber their history counterparts by three to two, as fewer students take traditional academic subjects. There are currently 11,932 history teachers with a post A-level qualification in the subject, a rise of 15 per cent since 1996, compared to 18,011 who are specialists in physical education, a rise of 22 per cent in the same time. These new figures mean that specialist teachers make up just 76 per cent of the history workforce - but 83 per cent of the PE workforce have additional qualifications - proving the government’s increasing commitment to tackling obesity and to improving health and fitness provision in schools. The Conservatives have pointed to these figures as proof of the decline of history in our schools and have pledged to give head teachers more power over school budgets. Michael Gove, the shadow children, schools and families secretary, said: "It is vital we act to end the decline and fall of history in our schools. “Giving every child the opportunity to learn our island story is crucial to improving education.”
Sports club offers kids fencing opportunity By Louise Cordell SCHOOLCHILDREN in Lewes are being given the chance to take up fencing thanks to a local sports club. Robert Parsons, a fitness instructor at Lewes Leisure Centre, was looking for fun, new activities to offer to local kids. After meeting Olympic fencing coach, Steven Paul, who appeared as James Bond in the fencing scenes for ‘Die Another Day’, he was inspired to become a coach himself and start passing the skills on. He got in touch with local schools and received an overwhelming response - over 270 children are now taking part during PE lessons, after school clubs and sessions at the centre. Robert said: “Everyone has been really enthusiastic about getting involved - our initial taster sessions were booked up almost immediately - so we knew the project was going to be a success. “Our five to eight year old group have been particularly enthusiastic - once you tell them they can have a go at sword fighting you can’t
keep them away.” The club’s aim was to look at the main reasons people chose not to take up fencing, and then remove those barriers to make the activity accessible to everyone. It did this by purchasing £4,500 worth of kit, providing a range of classes and keeping tuition costs low. Robert added: “We found that people like the idea of fencing, but were put off because they couldn’t find a coach nearby and the equipment is expensive to buy - especially for kids who might try something a couple of times and then move on to something else. “So we addressed this by buying the kit ourselves and going directly to the schools. “We are also trying to dispel the myth that fencing is a ‘posh’ sport – so we didn’t make it more expensive to take part in than any of our other classes.” The scheme has been so successful it is being rolled out to the centre’s other branches and the club is set to recoup the money spent in just two months. Plans are now in place to intro-
“Everyone has been really enthusiastic about getting involved - our initial taster sessions were booked up almost immediately ...” duce a range of other unusual sports to children in the area, including archery and body building. Robert added: “There are so many sports out there that let kids get fit without even realising it because they are having so much fun and that really build their confidence – but they are not doing them. “So we want to do everything we can to remove the barriers that are there, so everyone gets a chance to take part.”
Solent students coaching pupils at Cedar School.
City’s youth fighting fit thanks to students KIDS in Southampton are fighting fit thanks to expert coaching from local university students. Sport Solent’s After Schools Programme – which was awarded funding worth £50,000 from the city council – has provided 3,500 hours of sporting activity to 25 city schools since its launch last September. Southampton Solent University coaching staff and students studying for sports degrees have been teaching sports ranging from athletics to rugby
to pupils at primary and secondary schools. Coach development manager Paul Davies said: "The success of the project can be measured by the number of schools that have signed up and the excellent feedback we’ve received. This has been a superb opportunity for our students to pick up important coaching experience while working within the local community to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of school children.”
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dance and gymnastics 15
Demand leads to workshop
Cheering news on Spirit awards BRITISH Gymnastics is launching a new range of resources and awards for cheerleading. The Spirit awards offer a structured and progressive programme to assist in the development of cheerleading skills. The comprehensive programme includes inclusive and developmental activities particularly suitable for primary aged children and above. With 12 levels of attainment to develop skill and ability, and three award (bronze, silver and gold) for developing teambased cheer and pom dance; there is the chance to develop skills in everything from rhythm, synchronisation and vocals to routines, tumbles, jumps and stunts. This new scheme forms part of the British Gymnastics comprehensive programme of resources and awards that
have been developed by professionals from the sport of gymnastics and education which are designed to encourage, motivate and reward children of all ages. This programme includes the proficiency pre-school, core , advanced and trampoline awards which provide excellent entry points into the Key Step and Next Step competition portfolio. Brian Stocks, British Gymnastics CEO, said: “I am delighted to introduce the new Spirit awards that add to the range of excellent resources that are available from British Gymnastics. “Our aim is to help support coaches and teachers to develop gymnastics and cheerleading skills in the most efficient and effective way, whilst encouraging a sense of motivation, challenge and achievement.”
INCREASING demand for dance lessons for girls has led to the introduction of a new weekend dance workshop from PGL. Following the success of the GirlsActive initiative with Kelly Holmes, the youth activity provider has created a course that can be used to motivate disengaged students or support those taking a dance GCSE. The weekend workshops deliver street and urban dance with professional instructors from FitPro – the providers from the GirlsActive campaign. The workshops start with group work, helping the girls to learn some basic steps and motifs, practise various styles and build up short routines. They work on more complex routines and the workshop culminates in a performance.
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16 dance and gymnastics
Getting boys involved in dance is a challenge faced by schools up and down the country. Zoie Golding has been tackling the problem head on with her dance company, FuzzyLogic – Future Fitness found out more
Delivering first class male dance FUZZYLOGIC was founded in 2000 by choreographer Zoie Golding with the aim of promoting male dance in schools and communities. She runs workshops in primaries, secondaries and universities across the country – helping teachers and pupils to build sustainable dance groups of their own. She said: “My aim was to change the stigma surrounding male dance and make boys see it could be cool. “These days there are a lot of high profile guy dancers, but when we started out it was seen as a very feminine thing – people saw it in the same light as ballet and tap and didn’t really know much about the other styles that are out there. “So what we do is show them – the best way to engage boys is to demonstrate what can be achieved – if you put on a great routine they are interested immediately and want to be able to do the same.” The styles used by FuzzyLogic are a combination of high tempo and energetic contact work combined with narrative contemporary dance. The fact that it is very physical with lots of lifts, catches and throws means it appeals to sporty students as well as
those who don’t like to take part in traditional PE sessions. Zoie added: “We have found that getting involved in a dance group can be great for improving pupils’ self esteem.
“As an activity it attracts all kinds of people, from more academic to very sporty – right across the board. “It is very unifying and works to bring together kids from different backgrounds, giving them a positive focus. The company now provide training days for teachers to give them advice on how to sustain and expand boys’ dance groups once the initial work has been done. They are taught basic contact work skills and guidance on how to create narrative formulas that will be interesting and engaging for their target groups. Teachers are also advised to hand as much control of the groups as possible over the pupils themselves, creating team spirit and a sense of ownership to keep them engaged. Zoie added: “It can be hard to sustain that initial enthusiasm with boys – they need something special to keep them focussed. “We find the method needed varies from school to school, as the attitude pupils have to dance very much
depends on their teacher’s approach. “Some schools have dance GCSEs and BTECs going on, so they understand more about it, but we also want to help build and sustain groups for boys who don’t have that. “We haven’t done a workshop yet where we haven’t had converts – so it shows that with the right attitude it is something that can work for everyone.” Her aim now is to build on FuzzyLogic’s success, so that the group can act as a stable hub for boys’ dance, providing accessible resources when they are needed. Many previous members have already gone on to make dance their full time career and now they are qualified they are coming back to run workshops themselves and inspire the next generation. Zoie added: “Having our ‘graduates’ come back into schools affects pupils more than anything else – because they can see exactly what they could be achieving in the future, even if before they didn’t know that path was there.”
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news 19
Competitive boxing makes return to state schools By Louise Cordell COMPETITIVE boxing is making a comeback in state schools for the first time since the 1960s. Pupils around the country are starting to learn a full contact version of the sport in lessons and after school clubs. Successful interschool boxing contests have already taken place in Plymouth and Manchester, with more planned for the coming year. In Plymouth, seven secondary schools took part in a competition after teachers were coached by instructors from the Schools Amateur Boxing Association. Mike Carpenter, partnership development manager at Sir John Hunt Community Sports College, who helped to organise the event, said: “A couple of years ago we had an underspend on a Big Lottery grant and, after consulting with pupils, we decided that we would introduce boxing as an activity back into school. “We felt it was a chance for them to experience an Olympic sport, it would appeal to a different audience and it would also provide a forum to teach control and self discipline.” The grant paid for bags, gloves, medicine balls, skipping ropes and professional development for staff
across seven secondary schools with SABA. However, after the project had been running for a year Mike found that although numbers were initially high for the after school clubs, they tailed off after three to four weeks. He added: “Speaking to staff, I found that the pupils were losing interest when they found that they couldn’t actually contact box unless they joined a club, and that there was no competitive forum where they could display their skills. “So the partnership decided to run a small pilot to introduce the concept of skilled sparring, culminating in an interschool event.” The school clubs chose 40 boxers who had been regular attenders and who coaches and staff felt were ready to compete. They were paired up with pupils from other schools according to height, weight, age and skill and over 20 two minute bouts took place in the ring over a two hour period. Winners were decided by a panel of student judges, guided by a team of professional coaches, with decisions based upon skill, shots on target and discipline. The event was such a success another competition is now planned for December.
Successful interschool boxing contests have already taken place, with more planned Mike added: “Although initially I had my reservations about introducing the sport into schools, after seeing the power it has to work with different students to engage them and after seeing the respect and control between opponents I am a total convert. “If carefully managed and if the
right pupils are chosen to represent their schools, the sport is far less dangerous than football and rugby matches I have witnessed. “However, any schools considering introducing the sport should work closely with SABA as we have found their advice and support essential.”
Grants help Bury high school expand scheme A HIGH school in Bury has received thousands of pounds worth of grants to expand its new boxing club scheme. Broad Oak High School’s club is part of a new initiative to launch more sports based activities across the borough and has been funded by Sport England’s Sport Unlimited programme and the National Lottery’s Awards for All scheme. The money is being used to provide qualified coaches and tuition for teachers who will then be able to set up more clubs around the area. Gareth Oliver, assistant head teacher
and partnership development manager, said: “I came across the Schools Amateur Boxing Association (SABA) which gave me the idea to start promoting the sport to our pupils. “The SABA training is all about the art of boxing, exploding the myths that it is about power and aggression and showing the pupils that it requires discipline, swift decision making and high levels of fitness. “We also teach related skills such as judging, so students really do get to grips with the importance of good footwork, controlling aggression, blocking and parrying.”
Boxing club sessions are now held at Broad Oak, Derby, Woodhey, and Bury CE high schools, as well as Bury College and have proved so popular that Saturday morning classes are now being planned. At Broad Oak the decision was also made to target a particular group of pupils within the school, some of whom were not involved in any sport and some who had difficulties with their self esteem. Gareth added: “Boxing is great for promoting self-discipline and confidence and the way it is taught at the club is all about working around the
pupils themselves, putting them in charge and building their self belief. “We have had a great response from them and it has been a fantastic opportunity for them to enjoy themselves, excel at something and form friendships with other like minded kids.” The partnership is now set to hold its first inter-school boxing competition when pupils will have the chance to show off what they have learned. Even more schools will be getting involved next year and the aim is that they will all soon have a boxing team per year group.
Camp success
Sam Lewis in action
ELLESMERE College has hosted its most successful Rugby Summer Camp ever after teaming up with Shropshire Rugby. The sessions were run by RFU level two coaches and gave players of all abilities the chance to take part in competitive games. Old Ellesmerian Sam Lewis also visited the camp after leaving the college a year ago to sign a professional contract with Worcester RFC. He spoke to the pupils about his experience of school and club rugby and how his career is going as a professional rugby player. Paul Goodwin, rugby academy director, said: “The camp provides youngsters with an excellent opportunity to prepare for next season and there is always a strong focus on developing individual skills.
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20 news
Cricket is increasing tolerance By Louise Cordell
Champion swimmer Sharron Davies is fronting a team of inspirational speakers, whose achievements will be used to send motivating messages to audiences including schools and colleges. The British swimming legend has teamed up with stars including Joey Bull, track athlete Jennifer Stoute and Diane Youdale – who is best known as Gladiators favourite ‘Jet'.
CRICKET is improving young people’s discipline and tolerance in inner-city London according to a new report. Loughborough University has highlighted the positive role the game is playing in engaging teenagers and tackling anti-social behaviour. The evaluation of the StreetChance initiative carried out by the university’s Institute of Youth Sport also found that the inclusive nature of the game is helping re-connect marginalised pupils and overcome language barriers in schools where English is often a second language. StreetChance is a three-year project being delivered across ten London boroughs and uses cricket to engage young people in areas affected by youth crime and anti-social behaviour. It is delivered in school as well as out of school through regular community sessions. In its first year the programme involved 5,000 young people through ‘Street 20’, a fast-paced, more accessible version of cricket that uses a tennis ball bound with electrical tape, with games lasting for just 20 minutes. IYS researchers Ruth Jeanes and Tess Kay evaluated the impact of StreetChance on those involved, interviewing teachers, coaches, youth
workers and sports personnel and carrying out focus groups with school pupils and members of community groups. Ruth said: “The initiative is having a number of positive benefits on the young people it is currently engaging. “The inclusive sessions have motivated young people and enabled pupils with behavioural and learning difficulties to gain confidence.” The report also found that the cricket sessions provided a diversionary activity for the young people and helped to prevent them from hanging about on the streets or getting bored at home. In Southwark the initiative has even led to contact between communities from ‘rival’ estates and encouraged them to work together at the weekly StreetChance sessions. Mark Johnson, Southwark Police partnership inspector, said: “The programme has enabled us to deliver fun, diversionary activities through sport, providing positive role models for young people and helping to break down barriers between diverse communities which have historically never integrated. “The project has successfully used cricket to allow us to engage positively with young people, and the local community say there are fewer instances of anti-social behaviour while the sessions are running.”
New dawn for LIW By Jonathan Williams THE economic climate and certain factors, such as the departure of the FIA flame conference, have certainly made the lead up to Leisure Industry Week 2009, interesting to say the least. LIW, arguably the industry’s biggest single event, is taking place at the end of this month and without a doubt such factors have put the show under pressure and forced a real shake up. Time will tell but, in my humble opinion, this is something which was very much needed. Out of no disrespect to the show organisers, who have done a great job over the years, we couldn’t have continued as we were and I have felt a growing apathy both from suppliers and visitors about the show. Such issues have helped shift some power back to exhibitors and sponsors of the show and as a result
I think the industry will be rewarded. The departure of the Flame conference has forced a new focus, namely on the independent sector. Driven in part by Dave Wright, of CFM, LIW are introducing ‘Independent Operators Unite’ which will be a two day programme over the show. As independents make up almost 54 per cent of our industry this is a great step to provide more support, guidance and profit levels aimed at smaller clubs. Naturally the ‘big boys’ in the health and fitness sector tend to get the most support from the FIA and core events, but the smaller facilities, who perhaps offer that much sought after niche market, need recognition and support for the continued growth of our industry. The presence of the Wright Foundation will also add to the valuable information presented at
the show, detailing new approaches in the battle against the current state of our nation’s health. With seminars on GP referrals along with a presentation by Dr Kenneth Cooper the chairman and founder of the world’s largest child obesity project; more will now grasp a greater understanding on how the NHS can effectively work with our industry to quickly reduce the growing problem of obesity and reduce the huge predicted costs. There has never been a more
important time for us as an industry to come together. The obesity epidemic seems to be getting worse and new statistics are frightening. If we can’t make an effort for a few days a year what can we do? Are decision makers attending? If not, why not? It will ‘get smaller every year’ if people stay away. I hope this is not the case as it would only be a poor reflection on us an industry. See you at the NEC. Johnathan Williams is CEO of Shokk
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22 365
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22 365 directory
Training & Qualifications
Interactive Equipment/ Dance Mats
YMCA FIT 111 Great Russell St London WC1B 3NP T: 0207 343 1855 W: www.ymcafit.org.uk E: info@ymcafit.org.uk
Pulse Dance Machine The Bromley Centre Bromley Rd Congleton Cheshire CW12 1PT T: 01260 294600 W: www.pulsefitness.com E: info@pulsefitness.com
Pulse Soccer Centres The Bromley Centre Bromley Rd Congleton Cheshire CW12 1PT T: 01260 294600 W: www.pulsefitness.com E: info@pulsefitness.com
Professional Associations Central YMCA Qualifications 111 Great Russell St London WC1B 3NP T: 0207 343 1800 W: www.cyq.org.uk E: info@cyq.org.uk
Cyber Coach Unit 1a Britannia Business Park Union Rd The Valley Bolton BL2 2HP T: 0845 869 2848 W: www.cyber-coach.co.uk E: info@cyber-coach.co.uk
Association for Physical Education Building 25 London Road Reading Berkshire RG1 5AQ T: 0118 378 2440 W: www.afpe.org.uk E: enquiries@afpe.org.uk
Jump Rope Uk Ltd 16 Riverside Park Wimborne Dorset BH21 1QU tel: 01202 840590 fax: 01202 840577 jumpropes@ntjr.co.uk www.ntjr.co.uk
Fitness Equipment
British Colleges Sport 2/3 North Street Workshops North St Stoke-Sub-Hamdon Somerset TA14 6QR T: 01935 823444 W: www.britishcollegessport.org E: kate.paul@britishcollegessport.org
Pulse Fitness The Bromley Centre Bromley Rd Congleton Cheshire CW12 1PT T: 01260 294600 W: www.pulsefitness.com E: info@pulsefitness.com
National Extension College The Michael Young Centre Purbeck Road Cambridge CB2 8HN T: 0800 389 2839 W: www.nec.ac.uk E: info@nec.ac.uk
SportsArt Fitness 2 Dean Court Unit 10 Shuttleworth Mead Bus Park Padiham Lancs BB12 7NG T: 01282 779234 W: www.sportsartfitness.com E: mark.turner@sportsartfitness.com
Sports Facility Development
Hexa Sports Ltd New Bond Street Birmingham B9 4EJ tel: 0121 7720724 sales@hexasports.co.uk www.hexasports.co.uk
Sports Solutions GB Suite One Copse Farm South Marston Park Swindon SN3 4UQ T: 01793 833456 W: www.sportssolutionsgb.co.uk E: chris.bevan@sportssolutionsgb.co.uk
Training Equipment Crazy Catch Wall Tree House Farm Steane Brackley NN13 5NS T: 01295 816765 W: www.flicx.com E: ricx@flicx.com
Design & Build Pulse Select The Bromley Centre Bromley Rd Congleton Cheshire CW12 1PT T: 01260 294600 W: www.pulsefitness.com E: info@pulsefitness.com
Football Facility Build Goals Soccer Centres plc Orbital House Peel Park East Kilbride G74 5PR T: 01355 234800 W: www.goalsfootball.co.uk E: keithm@goalsfootball.co.uk
Climbing Walls Freedom Climber Cherry Cottage Guildford Rd Cranleigh Surrey GU6 8LS T: 07554 016220 W: www.revolutionaryproducts.co.uk E: andrew@revolutionaryproducts.co.uk Entre Prises Eden Works Colne Rd Kelbrook Lancs BB18 6SH T: 01282 444800 W: www.ep-uk.com E: info@ep-uk.com
Audio Equipment Sound Dynamics 51 Bridge St Belper Derbyshire DE56 1AY T: 01773 828486 F: 01773 828475 W: www.sound-dynamics.co.uk E: support@sound-dynamics.co.uk
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Future Fitness has launched its very own e-newsletter. The monthly letter will contain breaking news from the industry as well as information about forthcoming features and events. Like the magazine, the e-newsletter is completely free to receive. All we need you to do is register your e-mail address by visiting our website, www.futurefitness.uk.net, calling 01226 734695 or complete the registration form that arrives with your copy of Future Fitness. Any companies wishing to take advantage of the sponsorship opportunities available on the e-newsletter should contact 01226 734672 or e-mail sales@futurefitness.uk.net.
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