30/07/2013 - Permalink

Get Going in Shropshire this summer with Change4Life

Related topics: Community / Health

Shropshire families are being encouraged to get going this summer and join in a host of activities and events across the county as part of a national campaign to get people more active. 

The “Get Going this Summer” campaign, supported by Shropshire Council’s public health team, has been organised as part of the Department of Health’s Change4life initiative to get people to eat well, move more and live longer.

The campaign is encouraging people to sign up to the Change4Life initiative, where they’ll get a host of information and lots of handy tips and their own personalised activity plan.

Summer is a great time for us all to get active, and those with kids will want to keep them busy over the school holidays too.  The good news is that there are loads going on in Shropshire to keep everyone active and entertained. 

Shropshire Council services are hosting many free events and activities across the county to encourage people to get active.  These include: 

  • Sure Start children’s centre activities – a host of activities for families with children under five and their siblings are taking place across Shropshire – click here.
  • Outdoor recreation team’s family-friendly walks – our outdoor recreation team have just issued a new family-friendly walk brochure in libraries and visitor information centres – you can also find them online at http://www.shropshirewalking.co.uk/keywordsearch.php
  • Travel Shropshire –  dust your bike down and join in a host of free cycling events throughout the summer at http://www.travelshropshire.co.uk/summer. 

For ideas what to do with the kids this summer, Shropshire Council’s Family Information Service (FIS) have just issued their Family Fun Guide eBook on Amazon.  The comprehensive guide to hundreds of events and activities is 77p.  The eBook is available at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Summer-Fun-Guide-2013-ebook/dp/B00DMKQCR0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372693764&sr=8-1&keywords=summer+fun+guide. 

You can also view what’s on at the FIS website at http://search3.openobjects.com/kb5/shropshire/fid/events.page?schoolholidayfun=1.

For things to do for kids in Shropshire visit the FIS website at http://search3.openobjects.com/kb5/shropshire/fid/family_results.page?familychannel=229. 

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, said: 

“We’re really pleased to be supporting Change4Life’s Get Going This Summer campaign. Getting active is important for all the family and it’s great that we’re offering a wealth of activities and events for children and families this summer which will support this campaign. 

“Change4Life online is full of great ideas, tools, tips and free online activity plans to help families get up and about this summer.  I would really encourage everyone to sign up to Change4Life; it only takes a few minutes.” 

Kids aged five to 16 need to do at least 60 minutes of physical activity that gets their heart beating faster than usual, and they need to do it every day to burn off calories and prevent them storing up excess fat in the body.  And activity’s not just important for kids – it’s also recommended that adults should make sure they’re active for 150 minutes a week. 

As well as encouraging residents to get more active, the public health team also want to highlight the importance of minimising sedentary behaviour, by breaking up long periods of sitting with frequent short breaks and encourage people to move more and sit less. 

Professor Rod Thomson, Shropshire Council’s director for public health, added: 

“It can be all too easy to let the kids spend a bit too much time on the sofa over the summer, and whilst it’s great to relax after a long school year, it’s also important to make sure that they stay active during the holidays.  The longer days are also the perfect time for adults to join in and give something new a try too.  So if you want to get your family away from the screen, why not check out what’s going on in Shropshire and try a new activity.” 

To join Change4Life and obtain a free personal activity plan visit: https://getgoing.change4life.co.uk/Home/Index.