Join Change4Life for your kids

Join Change4Life and you’ll receive an action plan tailored to your family’s needs. The plan includes:

• A tailored action plan for each of your kids.
• Recommendations for particular areas to focus on.
• Fun and helpful ideas for the family to try daily, weekly, monthly.
• Regular emails with seasonal highlights and everyday tips to help your family make healthy changes for a happy future.

Join Change4Life for your yourself

Join Change4Life and you’ll receive a welcome pack that includes:

• A booklet full of useful tips and tools to get you started on your healthy swaps.
• A quiz to help find your focus and the best areas to start your swaps.
• A wallchart to help track your progress.
• A tool to set the dates for your progress checks.

The Change 4 Life Website also gives you access to lot’s of different ideas about how you and your children can be active at home and outdoors!

Go to www.change4life.com for more information and to sign up!

 Let’s start growing Soho! While many events set out to embrace a healthy lifestyle, for those in the Soho community there is only one event that fully tackles not just what to eat, but how to produce those foods yourself;  FootNet. A recent initiative brought families together within Bishop Latimer community church with an enthusiasm to enhance food and lifestyle choices. 

 The idea was simple; to promote fruit and vegetable growth within the Soho area. Although it may sound like something you have heard before, have you ever been warmly greeted at the door by a walking, talking carrot? That was the reception given by FoodNet and arrivals instantly knew they were in for a treat. Attendees were given free fruit trees and tomato plants to kick start their own unique food growing adventures. Similarly, seed growing activities were provided for those of all ages, allowing children and adults alike to grow their own selection of herbs.

Cooking demonstrations, advice, and raffles were all available, with specialist FoodNet Food Heath Advisor Christopher Walker on hand to answer any food growing questions. These variables were essential in giving those who attended the opportunity to see what delicious meals could be made from simple grown vegetables and herbs, even those so easily grown in your garden or balcony at home. 

 The main cooking demonstration centred on a tantalising vegetable curry, and as its mouth watering aroma of mixed spices wafted down the street the number of visitors continued to increase. Who could blame them? It tasted fabulous. Also on the menu was spicy tomato and lentil soup, delivered by FoodNet Food Health Advisor Christine Corbett. The dish was well received, causing a rush of excitement as people were interested to find out the recipe and have a taste for themselves. For many who attended, the event was critical in showing people, like you and I, how to create the healthy meals that are so widely promoted today. From family fun for children to adventurous cooking for those more confident, the event had it all. If you usually walk away from community functions thinking they were enjoyable and useful, then this, quite simply, was outstanding and productive. The only downside is that it isn’t a weekly attraction.

Be Active are working with Brichfield Harriers to offer you the opportunity to join free* organised jogging groups.

 Sssions are tailored for all ages and abilities- everyone is welcome to get involved!

To find out more information about this exciting opportunity please contact Keith Holt on 07979 678939 or email Keith-holt@blueyonder.co.uk

*Please note that participants will need to sign up to the Be Active scheme in order to access the sessions

‘Families Get Active’ (Part of Be Active)

These physical activity sessions for parents/carers and children (18months to 3 years)  are free* and consist of a fun and vibrant mix of exercise to music and games all of which will deliver a medium intensity aerobic workout alongside improvements in coordination, balance, strength, endurance, agility and flexibility.

 Who can attend?

This is an opportunity for parents/carers and their children (18months to 5 years) to be active together in a fun and safe environment in the Ladywood area. **Please note all participants will need to sign up to ‘Be Active’**

 How can you join?

Contact James Forrest at Sport4life on 0121 429 4700

Multi-Games for Families

This is an opportunity for families to try out new games and activities together in a fun and safe environment for free!*

(Activities include dodgeball, rounders, cricket, basketball)

Sessions are lead by qualified instructors from Sportwise and take place in a variety of community venues from across the Heart of Birmingham area.

Who can attend?

Families who live in Birmingham

**Please note all participants will need to sign up to ‘Be Active’**

 How can you join?

For more Information please contact Adam Gale at Sportwise on 0121 713 1665

Sky and British Cycling are providing a host of leisure cycling opportunities for beginners, kids, families and the most confident riders. Whether it’s traffic-free mass participation rides through our cities or smaller, led-group rides through the countryside, there’s something to suit you. Sky Ride cycling events are perfect for people of all ages who want to get healthier, fitter and happier. And it’s good for the environment. If you’re looking for a new challenge, want to meet other riders or just a family day out with a difference, Sky Ride is for you.

For More Information Please Click Here to go to the Website…

Leisure Centres in Ladywood: 

What you will need:

To apply for B Active you will need to bring two forms of ID and proof of address with you to your chosen Leisure centre. Any of these could be:

-Driving Licence

-Passport

-Utility Bill

-Any other form of bill

 You will then need to complete an application form for a leisure card.

 To find out more, go to your local leisure centre or visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/beactive

Be Active

Birmingham City Council, in partnership with the NHS, is now offering all Birmingham residents* free swimming, group exercise classes and gym sessions.

*Birmingham residents pay council tax to Birmingham City Council.

What is Included?

What is included?

• Group fitness classes (before 5pm Mon-Fri, after 1pm weekends)
• Fitness gyms** (before 5pm Mon-Fri, after 1pm weekends)
• Fitness gym inductions (times as above)
• Swimming at all times during casual public sessions
• ICE Youth gyms** (8-16 yr-olds only, during normal public opening hours)

**except the cardio and ICE Youth gyms at Northfield Pool and Fitness Centre

Please note Powerpoint (free weights) gyms and sports hall hire are not included in the scheme.

The scheme runs until March 31 2011.

Please Click on the following link to find out more information http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/beactive

The residents of Mount Pleasant, Small Heath & Bordesley have decided to grow their own vegetables.  Cost-conscious local residents are beating the recession by enlisting the help of Birmingham City Council’s Neighbourhood programme and the Neighbourhood Manager, Janice Freeman-Phillips,  to grow their vegetables, save money and live healthier lifestyles! 

Residents have joined a growing army of health and cost-conscious people who want to change their lives and their area by creating a community spirit.  Have a look at Highate Word press or Stanhope Hall for examples.

Stanhope Hall