The Fun4Life programme

Why do we need Fun 4 Life in Walsall?

Many children and adults find it difficult to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. This is due to constant triggers within our society that encourage us not only to eat foods that are high in energy but have little nutritional value, but also to save time and effort through doing less physical activity.

Although many of us recognise that our lifestyles, and indeed our children’s lifestyles are not as healthy or active as we would like them to be, we find it very difficult to make successful long term changes. This is maybe due to the many mixed messages that are present within our society regarding health, as well as there being a lack of services that can support parents and children effectively. This can have a number of health implications, such as weight gain, which has been shown to lead to many other health risks.

Carnegie Clubs has been developed through Leeds Metropolitan University as a way to help children, with support from their parents or guardians, lead a healthier and more active lifestyle. Walsall Council and NHS Walsall have picked up on this programme and are rolling it out in Walsall as the Fun 4 Life Clinic.

What is the Fun 4 Life Clinic?

The Fun 4 Life clinic is a 12 session education and physical activity programme. Although it is designed for children between the ages of 8 and 16, parents/guardians will play a major role in supporting behaviour change by attending a parent lifestyle education session that is delivered as part of the clinic.

At the end of the 11 sessions children will not only have a greater understanding of why they need to modify their lifestyles, but also will have experienced how they can change it. With the coordinated support of parents, development of physical activity skills, awareness of physical activity opportunities in the local area, new friendships with other children who have common goals, and greater self-esteem, children will be able to build on their experiences and make positive changes to their lifestyle.

Programme Structure & Components
 FUN4LIFE clinics – AUGUST 2010

To book onto these clinics – please call the WAY team on 01902 605500

Walsall Football Club – Thursdays

Time: 4.30pm – 5.00pm
Children: Monitoring
Parents: Overview of previous week.

 Time: 5.00pm – 6.00pm
Children: Activity
Parents: Lifestyle

 Time: 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Children: Lifestyle
Parents: Activity or Parents monitoring.

Walsall Gala Baths –  Saturdays

This summer, we will be running one of our clinics at the Fitzone Gym at Walsall’s Gala Baths!

Time: 9.30am – 10.00am
Children: Monitoring
Parents: Overview of previous week.

Time: 10.00am – 11.00am
Children: Activity
Parents: Lifestyle

Time: 11.00am – 12.00pm
Children: Lifestyle
Parents: Activity or Parents monitoring

One of the main aims of the physical activity sessions is for children to have fun. If children do not enjoy activity they are very unlikely to continue with it. The programme will also help to develop skills and therefore confidence in a range of activities and promote opportunities outside of the club where children can continue their new found interests.

Although there are some risks, such as injuries, associated with any type of physical activity, we always aim to minimise these risks by ensuring that all sessions are lead by a qualified activity leader, a first aid qualified staff member is always present, all physical activities are age and developmentally appropriate for the children participating, and that health and safety risk assessments, in compliance with Walsall Council policy, are performed prior to all sessions.

Lifestyles

The lifestyles education programme aims to provide children with an understanding of a range of healthy behaviours that they will try to implement throughout the programme. Children will be encouraged to set goals that are specific to them, monitor such goals, and problem solve, with issues such as when and where they eat, how much television they watch, and how they can include more lifestyle activity into their daily routine.

Parent/Guardian Lifestyles

Throughout the Fun 4 Life Clinic, children will be encouraged to practice new behaviours. This will take place throughout the normal week, in between the sessions. Therefore it is imperative that parents have a full understanding of the work children are performing so that they can aim to facilitate change, and support their child. In addition to this parents may wish to use the opportunity to make changes to their own lifestyles and be a role model for their child and the rest of the family.

As you may be aware, the initial Fun 4 Life clinic proved to be very successful, and was only made possible through funding by Walsall Council and NHS Walsall. However, the cost per child is very expensive, therefore, if you feel you are unable to commit in terms of attending the educational session and bringing your child to the clinic each week we would prefer to offer the place to a family who will be able to fully commit to the programme. Please be aware that if there are 3 non attendances in a row by yourself or your child your place will be withdrawn and offered to someone else.

Staffing

The Fun 4 Life clinic is being delivered through Walsall Council, Sport and Leisure Development Services. All staff have been trained by Leeds Metropolitan University, one of the leading institutions for the development of new strategies to help children and parents with healthy behaviours and weight management.

Monitoring

Monitoring every child’s progress is an important part of the Fun 4 Life Clinic. This provides children with feedback, which reinforces the healthy behaviours they have adopted and encourages continued lifestyle change. Certain monitoring procedures will also be available to parents.

All monitoring is for both children and parents/guardians unless stated otherwise.

a.Body weight will be measured using a standard set of scales.

b.Height will be measured.

c.The amount of muscle and fat the body has will be measured using a bioelectrical impedance device. This requires the subjects to stand on a set of special scales similar to the body fat scales you can buy in the shops, and takes about 10 seconds to perform.

d.A tape measure will be used to assess the circumference and hips. The measurement is very simple and takes a couple of minutes.

e.Children and parent/guardians will be asked to complete a range of standard questionnaires to assess self-esteem, feelings about eating and exercise, how much and what types of foods are eaten and how much time is spent on television watching and video games. These questionnaires will be delivered to the children in 2 separate 30 minutes.

Although the monitoring is part of the programme, participation is entirely voluntary and children and/or parents can choose to opt out of any measurements at any time and need not give any reason for doing so.

Why do we need Fun 4 Life in Walsall?
Many children and adults find it difficult to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. This is due to constant triggers within our society that encourage us not only to eat foods that are high in energy but have little nutritional value, but also to save time and effort through doing less physical activity.
Although many of us recognise that our lifestyles, and indeed our children’s lifestyles are not as healthy or active as we would like them to be, we find it very difficult to make successful long term changes. This is maybe due to the many mixed messages that are present within our society regarding health, as well as there being a lack of services that can support parents and children effectively. This can have a number of health implications, such as weight gain, which has been shown to lead to many other health risks.
Carnegie Clubs has been developed through Leeds Metropolitan University as a way to help children, with support from their parents or guardians, lead a healthier and more active lifestyle. Walsall Council and NHS Walsall have picked up on this programme and are rolling it out in Walsall as the Fun 4 Life Clinic.
What is the Fun 4 Life Clinic?
The Fun 4 Life clinic is a 12 session education and physical activity programme. Although it is designed for children between the ages of 8 and 16, parents/guardians will play a major role in supporting behaviour change by attending a parent lifestyle education session that is delivered as part of the clinic.
At the end of the 11 sessions children will not only have a greater understanding of why they need to modify their lifestyles, but also will have experienced how they can change it. With the coordinated support of parents, development of physical activity skills, awareness of physical activity opportunities in the local area, new friendships with other children who have common goals, and greater self-esteem, children will be able to build on their experiences and make positive changes to their lifestyle.
Programme Structure & Components
Shelfield Sports College Sept-Dec 09, Monday (5.30pm-8.00pm)
Time
Children
Parents
5.30pm – 6.00pm
Monitoring
6.00pm – 7.00pm
Activity
Lifestyle
7.00pm – 8.00pm
Lifestyle
Activity (Gym)
One of the main aims of the physical activity sessions is for children to have fun. If children do not enjoy activity they are very unlikely to continue with it. The programme will also help to develop skills and therefore confidence in a range of activities and promote opportunities outside of the club where children can continue their new found interests.
Although there are some risks, such as injuries, associated with any type of physical activity, we always aim to minimise these risks by ensuring that all sessions are lead by a qualified activity leader, a first aid qualified staff member is always present, all physical activities are age and developmentally appropriate for the children participating, and that health and safety risk assessments, in compliance with Walsall Council policy, are performed prior to all sessions.
Lifestyles
The lifestyles education programme aims to provide children with an understanding of a range of healthy behaviours that they will try to implement throughout the programme. Children will be encouraged to set goals that are specific to them, monitor such goals, and problem solve, with issues such as when and where they eat, how much television they watch, and how they can include more lifestyle activity into their daily routine.
Parent/Guardian Lifestyles
Throughout the Fun 4 Life Clinic, children will be encouraged to practice new behaviours. This will take place throughout the normal week, in between the sessions. Therefore it is imperative that parents have a full understanding of the work children are performing so that they can aim to facilitate change, and support their child. In addition to this parents may wish to use the opportunity to make changes to their own lifestyles and be a role model for their child and the rest of the family.
As you may be aware, the initial Fun 4 Life clinic proved to be very successful, and was only made possible through funding by Walsall Council and NHS Walsall. However, the cost per child is very expensive, therefore, if you feel you are unable to commit in terms of attending the educational session and bringing your child to the clinic each week we would prefer to offer the place to a family who will be able to fully commit to the programme. Please be aware that if there are 3 non attendances in a row by yourself or your child your place will be withdrawn and offered to someone else.
Staffing
The Fun 4 Life clinic is being delivered through Walsall Council, Sport and Leisure Development Services. All staff have been trained by Leeds Metropolitan University, one of the leading institutions for the development of new strategies to help children and parents with healthy behaviours and weight management.
Monitoring
Monitoring every child’s progress is an important part of the Fun 4 Life Clinic. This provides children with feedback, which reinforces the healthy behaviours they have adopted and encourages continued lifestyle change. Certain monitoring procedures will also be available to parents.
All monitoring is for both children and parents/guardians unless stated otherwise.
a.Body weight will be measured using a standard set of scales.
b.Height will be measured.
c.The amount of muscle and fat the body has will be measured using a bioelectrical impedance device. This requires the subjects to stand on a set of special scales similar to the body fat scales you can buy in the shops, and takes about 10 seconds to perform.
d.A tape measure will be used to assess the circumference and hips. The measurement is very simple and takes a couple of minutes.
e.Children and parent/guardians will be asked to complete a range of standard questionnaires to assess self-esteem, feelings about eating and exercise, how much and what types of foods are eaten and how much time is spent on television watching and video games. These questionnaires will be delivered to the children in 2 separate 30 minutes.
Although the monitoring is part of the programme, participation is entirely voluntary and children and/or parents can choose to opt out of any measurements at any time and need not give any reason for doing so.