The MEND Programme is the largest national scheme for tackling childhood overweight and obesity and Ashfield District Council is delighted to offer this opportunity to the area.  Children and families who have previously participated have achieved tremendous results.

MEND stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it! and the course is targeted at helping children between the ages of  7 and 13 who are over the healthy weight range for their age and height to become healthier and active with the support of their parents or carers.

The fun MEND Programmes which take place after school twice a week for 10 weeks will be running in the following leisure centres from September:

• Selston Leisure Centre, every Tuesday and Friday, 5-7pm from 28th September
• Hucknall Leisure Centre, every Monday and Friday, 5-7pm from 27th September
• Festival Hall leisure centre, every Monday and Thursday, 4.30-6.30pm from 27th September

 A limited number of places valued at up to £400 are available on the course completely free of charge thanks to the Big Lottery funding

The Programme includes a series of sessions to get the whole family involved in helping children to change their eating and exercise habits while learning about nutrition, therefore promoting sustained improvements in overall health, fitness and wellbeing. 

Dianne Holmes, Physical Activity Officer at Ashfield District Council said: “Previous families on the course have had a great deal of success and it changes family’s lives. Children become healthier and fitter and we have seen their self esteem and confidence increase greatly”.

“We are committed to offering families in the Ashfield area the chance to improve their health with this fantastic free course.”

Places on the MEND Programme are being offered completely free on a first come, first served basis to eligible families. For more information or to register for the Programme, call Freephone 0800 230 0263 or visit www.mendcentral.org . A parent or carer must accompany each child to the twice weekly sessions and places must be booked in advance.

Alternatively you can contact Dianne Holmes, Physical Activity Officer at Ashfield District Council on 01623 457233 or email d.c.holmes@ashfield-dc.gov.uk
Parents wishing to check whether their child is a healthy weight or whether they might benefit from the MEND Programme can visit the MEND website www.mendcentral.org, which has a handy Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator.