Bid to get more people more active goes live with Lottery funding

Representatives from sports governing bodies gathered in Rochdale to launch the new Link4Life ‘activ8teme’ sports programme designed to encourage adults in the borough to get more active.

The Sport England funded project is committing over £200,000 into the ‘activ8teme’ project which aims to get 25,000 residents taking part in physical activity over the next three years, and with support secured through Link4Life and NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale this figure is doubled to over £400,000.

Designed to be easy to access and low in cost it concentrates on eight activities – Running, badminton, cycling, exercise and fitness, football, golf, rounders and swimming. Sessions take place at Link4Life centres and a number of community and club venues including Littleborough Boxing Club, Rochdale Judo Club and Marland Golf Course.

Describing how activ8teme works, project co-ordinator Sarah Shard said: “Our first programme is now live with over forty different sessions available. All are led by qualified instructors and are ideal for anyone new to a sport. It overcomes all the problems of finding someone to go with, booking facilities and even buying equipment. Getting out and about, having fun, meeting friends and trying something new are just some of the benefits alongside more traditional health and fitness improvements such as controlling weight and developing strength and stamina.”

Officially launching the programme, Link4Life Chief Executive Gillian Bishop welcomed the national governing body representatives to the borough and acknowledged the important role they played in widening participation. She went on to add: “With the support of National Lottery funding, this exciting project is part of over £5 million across the country to be invested in grassroots sport to help form the lasting legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The activ8teme project is a perfect way to take those first important steps into a more active lifestyle.

Run England Area Coordinator for the North Craig Blain was excited about the potential the project holds: “Through working in conjunction with the Link4Life team we have been able to develop six groups across the town as part of our recreational programme and this number is only likely to grow as the project develops. It is a really exciting time for us and we hope the supported pathway provided by the groups will help get more people active more often.

Full details of the current activ8teme sessions are available from Sarah Shard on 01706 926239 or 07976 498629 with daytime and evening sessions on offer throughout the week. Information can also be found on the Link4Life website at www.link4life.org/activ8teme.