teenagers’
fi tness
as improving self-esteem and confidence.
A prime example is the multi-agency-led
pilot programme Project Respect,
designed to tackle the causes of
anti-social behaviour in Lincoln by
targeting youths aged 13–16 who had
previously shown resistance to engaging
with the police and outreach workers.
The weekly two-hour project guides
them through unfamiliar activities, such
as raft building, canoeing, wheelchair
basketball and boxing, with the help of
partner Community Leisure Services.
Sergeant Phil Baker of Lincolnshire
Police, says: “The project has a strong
emphasis on respect to help develop
the participants in areas of teamwork,
community payback, education and
sport. The hard work and development
of participants is rewarded with planned
Minister for Health Alan Johnson trips at regular intervals.”
(centre) shows his support for Fight Fit Since Project Respect was introduced
in late 2008, three youths have become
volunteer supervisors for youth
FIGHT FIT
services. Not only that but, by February
2009, the incidence of youth anti-social
T
he Fight Fit organisation operates The instructors give advice and behaviour had already dropped by
programmes in troubled London support in youth-related problems around 75 per cent year-on-year on
communities such as Hackney, such as education and professional one estate in Lincoln.
Brixton, Peckham and Lewisham, goals or issues at school or at home. “Clubs can’t convince people to
engaging groups of youths aged 12–16 “Our programme deals with the participate in these activities. It must be
in a 12-week programme of holistic body and the mind; this is essential to an outreach programme, participating
boxing workouts. Through controlled succeed in youth-related training. Only with the youth,” insists founder of
punches and correct breathing, a healthy body and a healthy mind can Yogabeats David Sye, who teaches
combined with positive mind coaching, lead to a positive life, making the right yoga to gang members and offenders
the organisation attempts to reduce decisions and keeping focused on the in Glasgow, Scotland and Brixton in
stress and frustration levels as well as right things,” says McKenzie. London. He suggests a day organised for
showing the youths ways of dealing Having one-to-one consultations at street kids would help positively engage
with confl icts and aggression, and the start of the programme, McKenzie them in the community and with the
giving them confi dence and goals. says, helps build trust between organisation delivering the programme.
Martin McKenzie, Fight Fit MD, is a coaches and teenagers, as each feels
qualifi ed neuro-linguistic programmer they are being taken seriously. Making
and uses his skills to understand team and pair-work a consistent part
the youths’ personality types and of the programme also makes the
ascertain the best teaching approach teens realise they can rely on each
and style to engage with them other and not face problems alone.
effectively. “Finding better ways to “When the kids leave, they have a
engage with youth is key to creating different mindset – they can’t believe
real change,” says Fight Fit’s director where their heads were at before
of sports Derek Williams. they met us. Some are even motivated
McKenzie adds: “It’s about to go to college, when before they
understanding their frustrations and thought college wouldn’t help them or
their viewpoint, then changing their provide opportunities,” says McKenzie.
mindsets and showing them what they The Fight Fit programme and its
can aspire to be.” REPs-accredited training course will
Fight Fit employs athletic stars from soon be available to health clubs. The
similar backgrounds to the youths organisation is also setting up a six-
to deliver motivational talks and to week Fight Fit FightObesity programme
make them aware of the opportunities for teens, with the support of the
available to them. It also uses an Minister for Health Alan Johnson, to
Yoga gang David Sye teaches
open forum and feedback sessions to encourage teens to exercise and adopt
yoga to young offenders and gang
discuss the youths’ issues and needs. weight management strategies.
members in Glasgow and Brixton
40 Read Health Club Management online may 2009 © cybertrek 2009
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
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