A Nottingham project aiming to tackle childhood obesity and inactivity has won £50,000 of Big Lottery funding...
A public vote orchestrated by ITV’s People’s Millions took place on Monday 24th November and proved to be successful for the Team Nottingham partnership made up Nottingham’s six professional sports clubs’ charitable arms and Leeds Beckett University.
Team Nottingham is an innovative partnership of charities linked to the city’s six élite sports clubs who will work together to tackle the dangerous rise in childhood obesity and inactivity across Nottingham. Partnering up are Notts County FC Football in the Community (FITC), Nottingham Forest in the Community, Trent Bridge Community Trust, Nottingham Rugby, National Ice Centre and Beeston Hockey Club.
The partnership formed in response to their ability to engage and motivate people through sports and physical activities and their combined track record of effective health projects.
As Nottingham is the 20th most deprived local authority in England, children are more likely to become overweight with less access to physical activities. Approximately one in three children of Nottingham’s children are overweight and almost 50% do not reach the recommended target of 60 minutes activity every day. Obesity and inactivity are significant factors in the future physical and mental health of Nottingham’s children. Both issues have an impact on children’s ability to play, their fitness, social inclusion and confidence, among other issues. Research demonstrates that being overweight as a child means people are more likely to develop life threatening conditions as an adult. People who are overweight are more susceptible to CVD in adulthood, as well as illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes. Being fit and healthy as a child sets individuals on a path for a longer life expectancy.
As a result of the difficulties local children face, Nottingham’s six clubs will address these important issues head on and use the city’s strong sporting heritage and famous sports brands to transform lives. Combining healthy eating workshops and a wide range of fun sports coaching and physical activities, Team Nottingham will have a huge impact across the city thanks to the public’s support which allowed them to secure this funding. Professional sports coaches will act as role models who children can relate to and will be able to help them make the right life choices. Team Nottingham will engage and motivate 840 people next year, improving their lifestyles and increasing the amount of activity they do.
To tackle obesity there are three factors that need to be addressed: diet, exercise and education. Team Nottingham’s project brings together all three aspects and will strive to improve diets and lifestyles as well as increase activity levels.
Tim Hatton, Senior Manager at FITC and representative for Team Nottingham is thrilled to have won the vote and for Nottingham to receive the money for their efforts, saying: “We’re so glad so many people from all over Nottingham got behind the vote and supported us on social media. We’d like to thank all of those who were involved in the media campaign and especially a big thank you to everyone who voted. The money received from The Big Lottery and People’s Millions will be used to deliver a new project to tackle childhood obesity in Nottingham. Team Nottingham will now be sitting down together to develop a plan of how best to incorporate all of the sports we can offer and each clubs’ expertise. Together we want to lower the rate of obesity in Nottingham and increase the amount of physical activity people take part in.”