Last year, thousands of people were supported across a number of health initiatives across the borough.
In an annual report considered by Cabinet last night (9 July) from the council’s Active Health team, it saw that in the last year thousands of people were supported across a number of health initiatives across the borough.
- Nearly 9,000 children attended Holiday Activity and Food programme sessions which the council delivers with national funding to support children on free school meals during school holidays
- 2,685 places were provided across Active Camps which provides a mixture of low-cost access to a range of holiday-based activity with food and supplements funded spaces provided through holiday hunger and programs like the Holiday Activity and Food programme
- 50 young people were supported with football skills and nearly 2,000 children were provided with skills to cycle independently. Nearly 400 bicycles were serviced free of charge.
- Over 200 children have been supported with activity through a school games programme.
- Nearly 2,500 primary school children took part in yoga and mindfulness activities.
- 30,000 minutes of physical activity for children was delivered through Dance from the Heart – helping children reach 60 minutes of activity per day through dance.
- Over 100 adults took part in a six-week healthy weight course with 69 families taking part in across 18 six-week Cook, Eat and Play project which provides skills how to cook on a budget and eat healthily at home.
Supporting happy and healthy communities is a priority for the council and they aim to ensure that people can have access to quality services at low or no cost. They look to continually promote healthy lifestyles and opportunities for young people including those with special edcation needs and disibilities.
Talking about our support for adults to use diet and exercise for their health, one user said, “Without the girls at Active Health I wouldn’t have discovered the treadmill. As a result of having the right information and learning to use the treadmill, I’ve so far lost 26lbs…Joining the course has been the best decision I have made for myself.”
A parent, whose foster child took part in Active Camps delivery said, “The club was excellent, and my foster child loved it. It’s the first club that he’s attended that he’s not been asked to go home. He’s a complex child with additional needs and the staff coped extremely well.”
Headteacher from Samlesbury Primary School, one of the school the council worked with on providing healthy activities said, “It’s brilliant to see every single child in the class being fully involved and enjoying the lesson, trying so hard and developing their skills”
Finally, a parent who joined one of the Cook, Eat, Play and programmes remarked, “I enjoyed spending time with my child. We have enjoyed new and different foods, and it has encouraged me to be more creative with meals.”
Councillor Clare Hunter, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Wellbeing said, “We strive to support young people and families with the skills, knowledge and positive experiences to lead healthier, more physically active lifestyles. We provide through a broad range of interventions which include school-based settings, active travel, wellbeing programmes and healthy weight management.
“I am particularly proud that in the last twelve months we have extended our provision to cover even more children and young people who had specialist or additional needs.
“We run a wide range of initiatives throughout the year, and I would encourage you all to get involved.”
More information about our active health team and their programmes, visit https://southribble.gov.uk/activehealth
If you are interested in joining a South Ribble leisure centre to improve your health and wellness, visit www.southribbleleisure.com.