More than 20 children and their parents attended a Healthy Me keeping in touch day recently at Devizes Leisure Centre to share their experiences and successes.
The day included learning short tennis skills, fun on the bouncy castle, tai chi and a team-building exercise, which split parents and children into small groups to take on the task of building the highest tower out of 15 balloons with the aid of two small strips of masking tape.
All participants enjoyed the event, and shared their achievements as a result of the Healthy Me programme.
One family from Trowbridge told how their daughter had sung at the O2 Arena alongside 7,000 other children as a result of the difference the programme had made to her confidence and self-esteem. She achieved a reduction in her body mass index (BMI).
The mother of another Trowbridge family that attended the programme said: “I am on my way to reducing my cholesterol thanks to your course. My son is now eating fruit daily and that’s a priority for all of us now.” She also now takes part in Wiltshire Council’s Trowbridge Get Wiltshire Walking group and is using the council’s health trainer service to make further improvements to her health.
Held in locations throughout Wiltshire, Healthy Me is a 10-week course for children aged seven to 11 and their families that aims to build self-confidence and self-esteem, with sessions covering topics such as the importance of a balanced diet, being more active, food label reading, and portion control.
John Thomson, cabinet member for leisure, said: “It is so good to see many families benefitting from the Healthy Me programme.
“This important programme helps Wiltshire families make positive lifestyle changes to improve their health, wellbeing and self-confidence, and it shows how successful the course is that many participants are seeing improved results long after they’ve finished the programme.
“Healthy Me offers an opportunity to find out more about healthy eating and the benefits of being more active. I’d urge any families that are interested in how they can make even small steps to improving their health and wellbeing to get in touch to find out how Healthy Me can support them.”
To find out more about Healthy Me, call 01225 716674, email healthyme@wiltshire.gov.uk or visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure-weight-management
