HDSAA welcomes new Sport & Health Development Officer
Harborough District Council have recently recruited a new Sports and Health Development Officer who will be able to help you with any queries you may have about your club, activity or health.

Marianne Boyle in partnership with the HDSAA chairman Phil Jarvis will now be working on driving forward the aims of the HDSAA to achieve what we all want, a healthier, sportier and more active district!

Marianne said 'There is a lot happening in Harborough at the moment for both adults and young people in terms of sport and physical activity. Active Together is now going into the second stage of the project having successful secured additional funding. Steve Scales, the physical activity development officer, has been working hard over the last few months to put together a programme of activity for adults right across the district to participate in. There is lots of opportunity for young people to get involved with after school activities Street games and free tennis.

The district has seen some remarkable achievements by their young athletes recently and this is something we want to build on by giving more young people more improved opportunitys to follow in their footsteps.

If you have any questions about anything listed on the website or would like any advice for your club then contact Marianne on 01858 821289 or email m.boyle@harborough.gov.uk[flash=200,200]http://[shadow=red,left][/shadow][/flash]

Inclusive Club
Try new sports in inclusive environment



Boccia, zone hockey, goalball and new-age kurling are just some of the unusual sports on offer for children and adults.



The Inclusive Sports Club, aimed particularly at people with special or specific needs, as well as their friends or family, takes place at Harborough Leisure Centre every Friday, from September 18.



The sessions, which take place during school term time and cost £1 per session, are open to everyone and anyone, at all levels of ability or disability.



The club offers the chance to learn new multi-skills sports, under the guidance of qualified instructors.



It is being run, by Harborough District Council, Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport, Blaby & Harborough School Sports Partnership, with support from the Alliance & Leicester, at the leisure centre, every Friday from 5pm-6pm.



For more information about the Inclusive Sports Club, contact Alison Price on 07966 882967.

MEND
This time last year, eight-year-old Laura Parker was struggling to keep off the pounds.
But now she has transformed herself into a kick-boxing, fruit-eating champion of a healthy lifestyle – and is encouraging others to follow in her footsteps.
Laura, who lives in Kibworth, lost weight thanks to a childhood obesity programme set up by Sainsbury's and fitness and weight loss charity Mend.
After losing 13cm around her waist her confidence has soared, and the youngster is now making sure all her friends know the benefits of healthy eating and exercise.
Laura now does swimming, rollerskating, kick-boxing and Latin American dancing every week.
She said: "If I've had my lunch and I feel hungry I just get some fruit. If I'm still hungry I have some water and the feeling goes away.
"I love kick-boxing now, but when I first went to Mend I was so scared, I didn't know what to say to anybody.
"My friend eats lots and lots of chocolate and I say to her, if you want to be fit you have to have a bit and not a lot of chocolate.
"I have a McDonalds once a year so I'm not pigging out."
The Mend (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it!) programme started two years ago and has helped 80 children in Leicestershire to lose weight.
Laura was taken to the obesity programme in Market Harborough last September by her grandmother Margaret Gunn.
Mrs Gunn, 67, of Market Harborough, said: "Laura was so self-doubting and all in all was quite a mess.
"She is now well aware of what she can eat and it takes ages to go shopping now because we have to read all the labels.
"We don't climb on the scales at all, we just encourage her to do what she enjoys.
"Laura recently read out a poem in front of her school, she never would have done that last year – she is a totally different child."
Mend is a 10-week after-school course and places are free.
Mend founder Paul Sacher said: "Our mission is to achieve a significant and measurable reduction in levels of child obesity.
"Encouraging children and families to make the right lifestyle choices and take part in regular physical activity will over the longer term help to prevent childhood obesity."
For more information go to www.mendprogramme.org