City News

Photocall
Location: Cofton Primary School, Wootton Road, B31 4ST
Date and Time: Wednesday, November 22, 11.30am
Photograph: Champion triple jumper Ashia Hansen MBE joins children for launch of healthy living guide

THE IMPORTANCE of healthy eating and sporting activities is being promoted to through a new booklet aimed at Birmingham’s children.

Food4Sport is initially being given out to those in Sutton Coldfield and Northfield who are involved with community leisure centre sports programmes, junior clubs and extra curricular clubs at school.

Targeted at eight to 11-year-olds, the guide contains simple dietary advice, information on the benefits of exercise, and motivation tips on how to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Capitalising on young people’s interest and enjoyment of sporting activity, the booklet is interactive through the use of questionnaires, quizzes, log pages, training programmes and tasks to achieve.

Contact details for sports and leisure centres are also included along with a diary section, and those who take part in the tasks can earn points. When complete, gold, silver and bronze awards will be awarded to participants depending on their performance.

Those responsible for developing the idea of the booklet include Northfield’s Sports Development Officer Susan Bell and her Sutton Coldfield counterpart Jane Sixsmith – a member of Great Britain’s bronze-winning 1992 Olympic women’s hockey team.

Also involved were strategic sports officers, Birmingham’s Children’s Dietician Service and additional support was provided by the Food Standards Agency.

Funding for the guide has been provided by both the Northfield and Sutton Coldfield constituencies through the Community Chest element of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

Cllr Ray Hassall, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture said: “Food4Sport is a colourful, interactive and fun way for young people in Birmingham to learn about leading healthier lives.

“I’m sure it will prove a hit with everyone who receives a copy – there are many good things that people of all ages could learn from this guide.

“As a City Council we are proud to have members of staff like our Sports Development Officers that are committed to making a positive difference to the quality of life for young people in the city.”