MEND Programme
Date: 12 Aug 2009
New MEND Courses in Swindon!
MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It!) is a free course for families with children aged 7-13 years whose weight is above the healthy range for their age and height. It runs twice a week after school for ten weeks. The programme helps children and their families manage their weight better and lead healthier lives by teaching them how to eat a balanced diet and how to become more active. Each two-hour session includes one-hour of fun games for the children and a one-hour healthy lifestyle workshop for the whole family.
SBC Leisure Services has been running the MEND programme in partnership with NHS Swindon (i.e. Swindon Primary Care Trust) for 18 months now. It has benefited many families to date and now they are looking for more families to sign up. Families have the choice of attending the programme at Dorcan Recreation Complex on Monday’s (5pm-7pm) and Wednesday’s (4pm-6pm), the Link Centre on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s (5pm-7 pm) and Greendown School on Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s (4pm-6pm). All three programmes will commence in September 2009, finishing in December 2009.
Parents also have the opportunity to sign up for MEND 5-7, a healthy lifestyle programme for children aged 5-7 years. There will be ten-week course starting in January 2010, comprising of one two-hour session every week based on active play, arts and crafts, food tasting and nutrition workshops.
For further information about the MEND programme, please contact Emma Creighton on 0797 171 2310 or e-mail ECreighton@swindon.gov.uk or visit the following websites: www.mendprogramme.org and www.challengeswindon.org.uk
