OUTREACH PROGRAMMES
be eating, ahead of their entry into high school when they will have more freedom over their meal choices,” explains Kimpton. “Over fi ve weeks, we provide one hour of classroom-based learning each week, looking at subjects like healthy eating, food groups, the psychological reasons that determine our food choices, physical activity and a tasting. This is followed by one hour of football-based fi tness and movement. “We fi nd the classroom session on
physical activity is always one of the most popular. I’ve just returned from one where we had all the kids do a Gangnam- Style dance, after which we took their pulses and discussed how their heart, blood and muscle groups would be reacting to the exercise.” In the last academic year, 86 schools took part, with over 3,000 Manchester children enrolled in the Strike a Balance programme. Based on questionnaires provided before and after the fi ve weeks, CITC found that 91 per cent of participants understood how much physical activity they should undertake, with 78 per cent achieving one hour or more of activity using large muscle groups every day. A total of 83 per cent were still able to recognise a balanced diet fi ve weeks after programme completion. CITC football coaches, all with RSPH Awards in Healthier Food and Special Diets, run the project – but is it undoubtedly appearances by player ambassadors such as Joe Hart and Gareth Barry which have helped give Strike a Balance a profi le in the community. “We would like to be seen as a
community role model, rather than just a money-making football club,” Kimpton says. “We achieve this by working to make a real difference to issues like childhood obesity.”
TOWN IN THE COMMUNITY Huddersfi eld Town’s Football in the Community department – funded mostly by the club, but with some support given by central bodies such as the Football League Trust – delivers fi tness tips to hundreds of local youngsters through its soccer schools. Mental health is also on the agenda, with the community team using some league games to raise the profi le of illnesses such as dementia among adult supporters. Since Huddersfi eld Town’s training ground, Canalside Sports Complex, is open to the public, the local community also has access to an on-site gym, football pitches, dance studio, bowling, croquet and hockey clubs at competitive prices. The team’s technical and playing staff are regularly recruited to spread the word about the football club’s fi tness and community work.
Making local headlines of late has been Huddersfi eld Town’s Keep It Up campaign, a fundraising scheme that jointly and evenly benefi ts the Huddersfi eld Town Academy and local charity the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Reaching out to the community, especially supporters, the campaign has seen large-scale sponsored walks and cycling events organised by the club to
raise an impressive £720,000 over the past three years.
Huddersfi eld Town’s ‘Pedal for Pounds’ cycling events promote physical activity while also raising money for charity
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Appearances by Manchester City players like Gareth Barry help boost the profi le of community initiatives
While the main motivating factor is the chance for fans to come together before a Championship game and make a genuine difference, Huddersfi eld Town also furnishes participants with health and training advice ahead of the fl agship ‘Walk for Pounds’ and ‘Pedal for Pounds’ community events, which have a heavy emphasis on the promotion of the benefi ts of physical activity. The latest walk, which took place in
November 2012 and which garnered support from a growing set of businesses, saw the football club’s chair Dean Hoyle and commercial director Sean Jarvis lead 175 fans across a 19-mile route to a game in Barnsley. Even more strenuous was the latest fl agship cycle, in which 300 fans made the three- to four- day bike journey from Huddersfi eld to Yeovil in time for another match. It’s the overwhelming response to
these, and other grassroots fundraising initiatives, that led to Hoyle setting up a registered charity in summer 2012. Charged with the mission of ‘making a difference’ in the West Yorkshire region, especially among young people who were in need, the Huddersfi eld Town Foundation has kicked off proceedings by initiating fi ve breakfast clubs at junior schools, so that 250 kids from deprived backgrounds receive a nutritious and healthy start to the day.
Such is the commitment to the
foundation that Huddersfi eld Town will double every pound generated by fundraising projects, enabling more Early Kick-Off breakfast clubs to be launched throughout 2013. ●
January 2013 © Cybertrek 2013
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