Thousands of children helped to get more active thanks for innovative work delivered by South Ribble Borough Council

These activities create many positive outcomes for young people, including but not limited to, increasing physical fitness, learning about nutrition, developing new skills and abilities, and improving confidence.

The dedicated Active Health team have been working with primary and secondary schools across South Ribble to deliver fun, new, and unique activities which focus on healthy eating, wellbeing, and getting active with sports.

Councillor Mick Titherington, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said, "Our Active Health team has done incredible work with local communities, through this range of initiatives. It is so important to for people to get active, especially children, and through these activities the team have helped equip children and families with the tools they need to eat healthily and keep active.

"South Ribble Borough Council are one of the few local authorities to create this kind of programme, but we know that the benefits of health, leisure and socialisation will be felt across whole communities."

Activities have included a Cook, Eat, Play course - part funded Lancashire County Council - which provided six sessions for families to come along, get active and learn how to cook healthy food.

A health and wellbeing course was delivered across six schools and via remote sessions to help children with their mental health. The sessions allowed children to be in tune with their feelings and to learn ways to relax through activities such as yoga.

School games competitions were also set up to encourage healthy competition and engaging new audiences into sport. Children of all abilities took park and the goal was for all to have as much fun as possible and understand how important it is to be physically active.

The feedback from students, pupils and parents alike has been wonderful. Some comments have been shared such as:

"The sessions have given me some confidence back overall and confidence to try making things I hadn't done before that I can do for all the family. It has inspired me to try and make positive changes overall for me and my family." (Parent after taking part in the Cook, Eat, Play course)

"We have found the partnership with the School Games Organisers at the Council invaluable. Our pupils are offered regular high quality training sessions in the delivery of a range of sports by professional, knowledgeable staff. This offers the local primary children enjoyable sporting opportunities and our pupils an experience like no other at high school and I'm proud to watch our young leaders learn and develop." (Angela Wade, Head of Physical Education and Assistant Headteacher, Academy@Worden)

"It made me feel happy and calm." (Y5 pupil after taking part in the Health and Wellbeing course, St Bede's Primary School)

Councillor Titherington continued, "I am proud that we have delivered this service to so many children in the borough. The sheer number of sessions we have delivered - nearly 3,000 in one year just shows the scope of our work and the dedication we have to the health of our residents. We know the continued work of the Active Health team will leave a legacy of good health awareness."

The Active Health team has a programme of year-round activities, for schools, individuals and workplaces to access help with active health and wellbeing. To find out more visit https://southribble.gov.uk/activehealth