Winter 2017 Get Active Recognising Health and Fitness in the Staffordshire Moorlands

Welcome to the 2017 Winter edition of Parkwood Community Leisure's Staffordshire Moorlands health and fitness newsletter. This newsletter is published quarterly, providing up-to-date information on activities and courses taking place within the three Staffordshire Moorlands leisure centres in your area: Biddulph Valley in Biddulph, Brough Park in Leek, and South Moorlands in Cheadle. IN THIS ISSUE:

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU?

WALKING FOR HEALTH

AQUAZONE SWIMMING LESSONS

BIDDULPH’S PARALYMPIC VISIT NEW YEAR, NEW YOU?

Now we've entered a new year, millions YOUR LEISURE CENTRE CAN HELP have a health or fitness goal which of people across the country will have Regardless of your background, whether you're looking to achieve, they are able embarked upon their New Year's you've never stepped foot in a gym to help you generate the motivation resolutions, many of which will have before, or whether you're already a required to achieve it, as well as help been related to making a change to regular user, the Staffordshire Moorlands provide you with the required support. their health or fitness. leisure centres are here to help. For more information about how For some, resolutions will still be going Did you know, included in membership your local leisure centre can help strong, however, for others, for whatever within the Staffordshire Moorlands you achieve your fitness goals, ask the reason may be, they will have leisure centres are: at reception, or contact the centre already faltered or be at risk of faltering. - a free induction on the following telephone numbers: - free personalised fitness programmes Let's face it, with our busy lifestyles, - free programme reviews Biddulph Valley: 01782 515005 other commitments and previously Brough Park: 01538 373603 formed habits, sticking to a New Year's If you have a health or fitness goal, the South Moorlands: 01538 753883 resolution isn't easy! leisure centres in the Staffordshire Moorlands would love to hear about it! So, what's the secret to success? How do you stick to that New Year's fitness The tailored one-to-one service which or health resolution? the centres provide mean that if you FIND YOUR PERFECTFIT

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT HEALTH ASSESSMENTS? The Fitness Technology Company

Each of the Staffordshire Moorlands Following the tests, the results are leisure centres is able to provide state- input into the Fitech system which of-the-art health assessments. generates an easy to follow traffic light system report, personal to the Working in partnership with Fitech, a individual. fitness technology specialist, the leisure centres in Biddulph, Cheadle and Leek Green = Good are able to carry out the assessments Amber = Need for Improvement which feature a series of health related Red = Below Average questions and tests. The report allows you to understand Did you know? The tests allow you to find out all sorts the key lifestyle issues that directly If you're an expressions member, of information about your health: affect your health and wellness whilst the state-of-the-art health Cholesterol Levels identifying potential problem areas and assessments are included as part of Blood Glucose Levels providing advice and positive change your membership! A great way to Body Mass Index - Height / Weight suggestions that will make a difference. track your progress. Blood Pressure Resting Heart Rate Body Fat Peak Flow - Lung Capacity Flexibility STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS HEALTHWATCH

The Staffordshire Moorlands leisure leisure centres has to facilitating and centres are now officially Healthwatch enhancing health and social care Staffordshire Champion Organisations. services and opportunities within the local community. Healthwatch Staffordshire is the independent consumer champion for The leisure centres in Biddulph, Cheadle health and social care in our local area, and Leek will be supporting delivered by Engaging Communities Healthwatch engagement work within Staffordshire. Their job is to champion the community whilst also being active the consumer interests of those using in representing and channeling the health and social care services across views of local people by attending local the county and give local people an meetings and liaising with like-minded opportunity to speak out about their professionals. concerns and health care priorities. Healthwatch will support the current Healthwatch Staffordshire continually range of programmes and future monitor, analyse, investigate and projects ran within the leisure centres, challenge health and social care across and will also identify ways that each of Staffordshire. By becoming a the centres can improve to better serve Healthwatch Champion, it demonstrates the elderly and the vulnerable members the commitment that each of the of the community.

WALKING FOR HEALTH

The Staffordshire Moorlands leisure As part of the new scheme, there will volunteers. This action is intended to centres have launched an initiative to be short walks which are suitable for act as a stepping stone into other forms get more people active by walking. beginners, as well as longer walks for of activity, also creating a pathway to those who have more experience. the more advanced walks that are The fitness facilities in Biddulph, delivered on a monthly basis. Cheadle and Leek have joined 'Walking Walks within the area, organised by for Health', England's largest network Staffordshire Moorlands District If you wish to take part in the walks, of health walks which currently has Council, have already been taking place. would like to volunteer or help, or are over 400 active schemes. These will be maintained, providing looking for further information, please more competent ramblers with contact Sports Development Manager, In England, half of all adults are not experiences of walks approximately Chris Hancock on 01538 373603 or active enough to benefit their health. 5-10 miles in duration once per month. email chris.hancock01@parkwood- This means that they are at risk of communityleisure.co.uk. developing serious illnesses, such as In addition, a new series of beginner diabetes, heart disease and cancer. and short walks will be delivered from But it doesn't have to be this way. each of the three leisure centres across The Walking for Health development the Moorlands. Such walks will be within the Staffordshire Moorlands delivered on a weekly basis and will will see the establishment of 13 create an additional 12 sessions each monthly community walks month, all of which will be delivered via throughout the district. leisure centre staff members and FEATURED ACTIVITY - SWIMMING LESSONS

Swimming - whether you do it to have operated in partnership with the to ensuring that. Whatever their age or fun, to keep fit, to compete, or not very Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), ability, everyone can have fun whilst much at all, maybe once a year when on offering lessons for both children and learning to swim! holiday, it's a skill which has the adults on a group or one-to-one basis. potential to save your life. With Contact a Staffordshire Moorlands drowning still being one of the most Not only is it about learning a life skill, leisure centre today to learn how they common causes of accidental death in swimming also provides lots of health can help you and your family swim well. children, being able to swim is still as benefits, helping to keep the heart and important as ever. lungs healthy, improving strength, flexibility and posture, and increasing All three Staffordshire Moorlands stamina! leisure centres offer swimming lessons via their Aquazone swimming lessons Swimming is a life skill which everyone programme. should have the opportunity to master in their lifetime, and the Aquazone Delivered by fully qualified swimming programme within the Staffordshire teachers, the Aquazone programme is Moorlands leisure centres is dedicated

OVER 55'S LEARN TO SWIM THE AQUAZONE JOURNEY An Over 55's learn to swim project is underway at Biddulph Valley Leisure AQUAZONE FOUNDATION FOUNDATION Foundation lessons focus on developing motor skills and an Centre. Running throughout January, introduction to water February, March and April, the weekly sessions are to motivate and encourage AQUAZONE STAGE 1 currently inactive individuals that are 1. Basic safety awareness aged over 55 to learn to swim. STAGE 1 2. Basic water confidence and movement skills 3. Swimming aids can be used Working with Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and AQUAZONE STAGE 2 their ACCESS funding scheme, the STAGE 2 1. Basic safe entries to the water programme involves a weekly 2. Swimming aids can be used (e.g. arm bands or floats) swimming lesson for the duration of 16 AQUAZONE STAGE 3 weeks. Up until 08/03/2017, each 1. More advanced safe entries to water participant pays just £1 per session. STAGE 3 2. Travel up to 10 metres Then, for the remaining eight weeks, 3. Rotation skills participants will be invited to pay the 4. Water safety knowledge regular price of £5.15 per lesson. Each AQUAZONE STAGE 4 participant who goes on to pay the 1. Developing an understanding of buoyancy regular price will also gain access to STAGE 4 2. Refining kicking technique 3. Swimming 10 metres using a variety of strokes free public swimming at the centre, allowing the individual to exercise AQUAZONE STAGE 5 multiple times each week outside of 1. Sculling and treading water structured sessions. STAGE 5 2. Complete rotation 3. Improving all strokes After each session, participants are welcome to stay in the leisure centre AQUAZONE STAGE 6 1. Co-ordinated breathing and socialise in the café with a STAGE 6 2. Basic rescue techniques complimentary cup of tea or coffee. 3. Swim 25m Sessions are on Wednesdays, 14:45- AQUAZONE STAGE 7 15:30, and despite the project getting 1. Linked routines using skills learnt over the past 6 stages STAGE 7 2. Complete an obstacle course underway, it's not too late to take part. 3. Swim up to 100m For more information, please contact Sports Development Manager, Chris AQUAZONE STAGES 8 – 10 Hancock for more information on Once the swimmer has developed the core range of skills by STAGES 8, 9 & 10 01782 515005, or email completing stages 1-7 they can take part in either competitive swimming or rookie lifesaving chris.hancock01@parkwood- communityleisure.co.uk. 6 WEEKS OF FREE FITNESS FOR FEMALES AGED 16-25

Ladies between the age of 16 and 25 in membership programme, it will the Staffordshire Moorlands are encourage more young females to currently able to claim 6 weeks of free become active, leading to them staying membership at the leisure centres in active within later life. Biddulph, Cheadle and Leek.* To claim the free 6 week membership, Running in partnership with Sportivate, all you have to do is a pick up an a Sport England initiative which application form from reception, fill it in provides funding to deliver increased and return it. sporting opportunities to young people - the programme aims to get those who Those who wish to take part have until are not currently active, exercising. the 19th of February to return their completed application form. Sport England has identified young females as being a key focus group. It is hoped that by running the 6 weeks free *Terms and Conditions Apply.

BIDDULPH’S PARALYMPIC VISIT

In October, Biddulph Valley Leisure Her fantastic achievements meant a further gold medal at the Rio Centre was paid a visit by that she became the first British Paralympics in 2016, this time paralympic gold medalists, Paralympian to win golds in setting a world record for the Kadeena Cox and Ellie Simmonds. multiple sports at the same Games 200m medley. since Isabel Barr in 1984. Kadeena Cox was diagnosed with The Paralympics GB duo visited multiple sclerosis at the age of 23. Ellie Simmonds has Achondroplasia, Biddulph Valley Leisure Centre to Last year, at the age of 25, she a common cause of dwarfism, and star in the production of an competed at the Rio 2016 rose to fame when she competed in interview, produced in order to Paralympics in both athletics and the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, promote women's sport. The cycling. At the Games, she took winning two gold medals for Great interview, developed in partnership home a gold in the T38 400m, a Britain. She achieved that despite with Virgin Money Giving and the silver in the T35-38 4x100m relay being the youngest member of the Women's Sports Trust, has been and a bronze in the T38 100m. She team at the age of 13. In 2012, she made into a 10 film as part of a also set a new world record of won another two golds in London, series called '100% Giving'. 1:00.71 to take the gold medal in including setting a world record in the T38 400m. the 400m freestyle, before winning NEW JUNIOR FITNESS CLASSES SWIMATHON

Good health, improved self-esteem and Classes for the younger children build Swimathon, the world's biggest a better quality life – there is mounting foundation fitness skills through fundraising swim, uniting swimmers evidence proving that physical activity imagination, exploration and movement around challenges and fundraising is back drives a range of positive health and set to specially created music. Whereas on 7th - 9th April 2017 for the 30th year. social outcomes. Yet despite the classes for older kids feature top 40 hits All levels of fitness, ability and age are compelling reasons to get moving, many and focus on building dance, yoga, accounted for with the range of children fail to achieve the recommended martial arts and athletic skills. Swimathon challenges. You can choose to level of physical activity. The Staffordshire take on 1.5k, 2,5k or 5k or, with the Moorlands leisure centres, working in To find out more about LES MILLS BORN SimplySwim challenge, do your own partnership with Les Mills - creator of the TO MOVE™, please contact your local distance in your own time. You can even world-leading adult group fitness classes, leisure centre or head to form a relay team! are on a mission to change this. www.lesmills.com/uk This year, Swimathon welcomes back Responding to the rapidly declining level Marie Curie to the event as the official of physical activity in our youth, Les Mills, charity partner. Marie Curie is the UK's has created BORN TO MOVE™, and it's leading charity for people with any soon to be running from the Staffordshire terminal illness. Their nurses and hospices Moorlands leisure centres. offer expert care, support and guidance to help people living with a terminal BORN TO MOVE™ features separate illness and their families get the most programs for five age groups, starting from the time they have left. with two to three-year-olds through to If you take part, whatever you do, the teens. Each class is carefully crafted to money you raise will help people living meet the unique developmental needs with any terminal illness, and their of that age group. families. Contact reception to find out about how to register.

HAREGATE, LEEK SCORES NEW PLAY AREAS HAT-TRICK

Work to redevelop three important play by creating fun and accessible play areas spaces at Haregate in Leek is underway. at Ball Haye and Haregate Hall. We'll Funding for the work at Ball Haye also be installing new low-level Recreation Ground, Haregate Hall play equipment at the Waste which respects area and The Waste open space has the natural surroundings in this location. been provided by the ASCENT housing project, which provided new family “These schemes will transform these homes in the area, and the schemes will play areas and be a real boost for be managed by Staffordshire Moorlands Haregate. I look forward to seeing them District Council. taking shape over the coming months.” Leek Town Mayor, Councillor Rebecca Following consultation with Leek Town Done, added: “We were pleased to be Council - who own and manage Ball able to provide funding for the Ball Haye Haye recreation ground and have element of the scheme and we look provided funding for this particular forward to seeing work on this, and the scheme,- the local community and two other projects, start soon. I know young people, the contract to deliver the how much they will be welcomed by the project has been awarded to HAGS-SMP Haregate community.” play company and work has now begun. Councillor Brian Johnson, cabinet You can check out the designs on the member with responsibility for leisure, Council's new website – sport and parks at the Council, said: “It's www.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk – and at great news that work will be starting on Haregate Community Centre. these three sites early in the New Year. Work is expected to be complete by “We've got some exciting designs which Spring 2017. will bring some much-needed improvements to the local community GET INTO TRIATHLON

Each of the Staffordshire Moorlands South Moorlands: Sunday 25th June DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC KIT: leisure centres is to host a 'GO TRI' 09:00-12:00 (Triathlon) SWIMMING event in the up and coming months. 1 or 2 piece costume for ladies. Trunks Instead of a Triathlon, Biddulph Valley or shorts for men. Don’t forget goggles! GO TRI is a fun way to access triathlon. Leisure Centre in Biddulph will be It's an initiative by Triathlon England hosting an aquathlon. The sport of CYCLING which provides people with little or no aquathlon consists of a continuous, Any kind of bike: road, mountain or experience in triathlon (swimming, two-stage race involving swimming hybrid. Even a shopping bike is fine, but running and cycling) events the followed by running. Triathlon on the maybe take the basket off! All bikes opportunity to take part at a minimal other hand also features cycling, should be in a roadworthy condition cost. All three leisure centres are set to coming in between the swim and run. with brakes on both wheels. A cycling deliver an event within their swimming helmet is essential, you won't be able to pools and surrounding areas on the Course details are to be released race without one. You will need a top to following dates: shortly. If you think that GO TRI is ride in, a t-shirt will do. something you or someone else would Brough Park: Saturday 22nd April be interested in, register your interest at RUNNING 09:00-12:00 (Triathlon) reception today! All you need is a pair of trainers. Biddulph Valley: Sunday 21st May 13:00-17:00 (Aquathlon) GENERAL KIT LIST:

INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES

The three Staffordshire Moorlands During the sessions, local disabled FA ADULT DISABILITY FOOTBALL leisure centres host a range of inclusive people have the opportunity to engage Working in partnership with the activities throughout the calendar year. within a variety of sports and physical Staffordshire FA, a new adult disability Below is a selection of the different activities such as; boccia, indoor kurling, football session is to be introduced at initiatives which are currently taking football, basketball, table cricket, and Brough Park Leisure Centre. The place or coming up. much more, lead by qualified coaches. sessions are open to everyone, regardless of their ability or experience, THINKING ACTIVE INSPIRE and will be delivered by qualified Delivered by Biddulph Valley Leisure The Inspire disability multi-sports club coaches from both the Staffordshire FA Centre in partnership with the delivered at Brough Park Leisure Centre and Brough Park Leisure Centre. The University of the Third Age (U3A), is a fun, safe and enjoyable club that all weekly sessions will commence on Staffordshire County Council, and Sport of the family can be involved with. The Tuesday, 28th February. Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on- club presents an opportunity to try a Trent, Thinking Active is a project set to range of different sports and physical deliver blocks of activity to those at risk activities in a relaxed and informal of developing vascular dementia. environment, guided by qualified Participants engage in forms of coaches. The club is open to all disabled physical activity followed by social and children (5-17 years old), siblings and fun cognitive stimulation therapy parents, and encourages the whole sessions which are designed to family to come along, creating a fun stimulate the brain. Staffordshire atmosphere where families are made to University have an involvement in the feel part of something that is unique. project, and are looking to generate Sessions are delivered on selected evidence to show that physical activity Sundays between 10:00-12:00 (please For more information on the above is an effective tool to tackle vascular note that swimming is only accessible activities, please contact Sports dementia. Sessions are delivered every from 11:00-12:00). Development Manager, Chris Hancock, Monday, 14:00-15:30. on 01782 515005 or email chris.hancock01@parkwood- ADULT DISABILITY MULTI-SPORT communityleisure.co.uk. Brough Park Leisure Centre hosts the adult disability multi-sport club every Tuesday, 13:30-14:30. Sessions are currently free, supported by Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent via the ACCESS Funding Scheme. GETTING SOCIAL

All three Staffordshire Moorlands leisure centres are on Facebook. Like their pages and: Be the first to know about exciting Receive updates about timetable events at your centre amendments Communicate with staff, instructors View articles featuring practical and your friends at the centre workout tips and meal ideas

Brough Park Leisure Centre is now on Twitter! Follow them @BroughParkLC and be amongst the first to find out about their updates.

WELCOMING YOUR VIEWS

Have you enjoyed your time in one of the leisure centres? Perhaps you have an idea which you think could improve things? The Staffordshire Moorlands leisure centres welcome your views.

There are many ways to leave feedback about the Staffordshire Moorlands leisure centres. Online: Offline: Facebook leisurecentre.com Customer comment card Speak to reception

@BroughParkLC Email Write to the manager Pick up the phone

YOUR LOCAL LEISURE CENTRES

BIDDULPH VALLEY LEISURE CENTRE BROUGH PARK LEISURE CENTRE SOUTH MOORLANDS LEISURE CENTRE Thames Drive, Biddulph, Staffordshire, ST8 7HL Fowlchurch Road, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 6AT Allen Street, Cheadle, Staffordshire, ST10 1HJ Tel: 01782 515005 Tel: 01538 373603 Tel: 01538 753883

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