Fitness
We all want to stay
fit and healthy and exercise is a great way to help achieve
this. Evidence shows that for every pound invested in sport
there are multiple returns in terms of health. People who are
healthier and fitter will not be relying on the health service as
much and young people will have higher attention levels.
Sport England carried out research recently, the primary
objective of the
Active People Survey was to measure levels of
participation in sports and active recreation and its contribution
to improving the health of the nation. Sports and active
recreation includes walking and cycling for recreation in addition
to more traditional formal and informal sports.
Sport England have also carried out work to discover where
sporting facilities are located in each local authority.
Active Places is a
ground-breaking new online database of facilities including sports
halls, swimming pools, synthetic pitches, health and fitness
centres and ski slopes.
Sport England also run the everyday
sport campaign in which brings together a wide range of people
and organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Working together, this initiative can help every community become
more active.
It is important to consult a doctor or appropriate
health professional before starting any new exercise
programme.
Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust (PCT)
Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT offer a wide range of services
which include programmes to increase the opportunities for physical
activity in the Borough, aimed at all ages and
backgrounds. Schemes include:
Get Walking with East Kent Health
Walks
The Ashford Health Walk takes place
every Thursday and meets in the Memorial Gardens
opposite Ashford Library at 10.15 for a 10.30
start. Now running for over a year, the walk has gone
from strength to strength, with new routes being tested weekly and
numbers walking increasing week upon week, currently an average of
25 people take part in each walk, which is brilliant. Walks last
between 45 minutes to an hour and are a great way to improve your
health, meet new people, reduce stress and improve your mood. There
is no need to book, just come along to the library, introduce
yourself and you are ready to go.
To keep the walk going into the New
Year, we are looking for some volunteers to help lead the
walk from the library. You needn’t be there every week,
but just be able to help out every so often with one of walks. Free
training is being given to anyone expressing an interest in leading
health walks on 14 November in
Ashford. If anyone is interested could they please
call 01304 828700.
-
East Kent Health Walks - Health walks are run
from the Memorial Gardens opposite Ashford Library every
Thursday. They meet in the gardens at 10.15 (for a 10.30
start). It's free to take part, simply turn up and join
in. For more information call the library on 01233
620649. Health walks are also run from the Willow
Centre in Ashford, these walks are designed to be child and
pram friendly, for more information please contact Sheila or Tracey
on 0800 587 7455.
- Kids Club alongside Parent Support - This club is aimed at
children aged 6-13 years old. Each week children take part in a
variety of activity sessions whilst parents enjoy a separate
programme designed to support their children.
Please visit the Kent Sports Development Unit
website for other county, regional, and national healthy
lifestyle initiatives.
Health and Fitness Clubs in Ashford
For more information on ways to keep fit visit
our Leisure
Centres, Cycling and
Walking
webpages.
This webpage was updated on
10/16/2009