Engage

Our Engage programmes fosters physically active individuals and communities including the most disengaged members of society. By providing organised activities with sign posted exit routes we help young people understand the benefits of living healthy lifestyles and also give them the inspiration to make physical activity a daily priority.

Many young people fail to exercise because they are spending time using computers, playing video games or watching television. Once established, obesity is notoriously difficult to treat, so prevention and early intervention are very important. We can play a large role in preventing childhood obesity by providing safe, supportive, active environments that supports healthier behaviours. Premier Foundation focuses its work in areas where financial hardship may be a barrier to participation, to provide the tools and knowledge to get more young people more active more often

Premier Foundation's new project under the Engage programme is the
NEW FitFamilies Initiative

Premier Foundation has been awarded a £250,000 grant by Sport England to fund an all-new family physical activity initiative FitFamilies. The project will initially be launched in Birmingham and fulfilled by Premier Foundation’s partner Premier Education.

FitFamilies has been created to be fun and engaging, allowing families to become aware of their levels of activity and starting them on the road to better habits for life. FitFamilies is designed to remove the elements of hassle, effort and stress associated with taking on additional activities by incorporating activities into the school day and promoting active travel.

FitFamilies aim to help improve the levels of inactivity associated with lower socio-economic families and start the process to forming better habits using physical activity as the vehicle for change. The link between obesity has been  well reported in the last few years, and more recently as a major factor in the recovery from Covid-19. Public Health England has reported that having a BMI of 35 to 40 may increase the risk of death from Covid-19 by 40%, while a BMI of over 40 could increase the risk by 90%.

The initiative was created after evidence of need was demonstrated from in-depth community consultations and will see parents and their children enjoying physical activity, sustainable wellbeing and nutritional knowledge interventions. The aim is to develop confidence and experience a deeper understanding of why taking part in such activities and integrating them consistently into their family’s lives in the long-term is paramount for their future.

Sport England Executive Director for Children, Young People and Tackling Inactivity, Mike Diaper said: “We are delighted to be investing National Lottery funding into the Premier Foundation to trial the FitFamilies project. We know that getting moving can be daunting, but by fitting it around people’s busy lives, we hope more families can move towards a more active and healthier future.”

Working in partnership with Premier Education and The Children’s Society, FitFamilies will be delivered to 24 schools in the Ladywood, Hodgehill and Kings Norton wards of Birmingham starting from 2^nd November 2020. It will be a multi-faceted program running across  two school terms, which will then lead on to the community sessions that will run for a further year. The Children’s Society will also be providing a Key Worker who will work on family engagement for the duration of the initiative.

Premier Foundation CEO Amelia Epton said:

“We are thrilled to be working with Sport England, Premier Education and The Children’s Society to deliver FitFamilies which will help play a crucial role in families learning together how easy it can be to make changes to better their lives. We recognise how powerful sport and physical activity can be and this is just one more way we can help enhance the future potential lives of families”.

FitFamilies is a fantastic example of physical activity and education being used to change not only young people’s lives but those of their parents and wider family groups too. Premier Foundation are delighted to be playing such an important part in helping to build confidence and self-esteem amongst these families.

Benefits of Engage

Physical – increased physical activity can reduce obesity
Social – regular exercise can create confidence and reduce isolation
Emotional – regular activity can have a positive effect on emotional well-being
Intellectual – physical activity leads to positive changes in brain structure and function