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.

WALKING FOR HEALTH

AQUAZONE SWIMMING LESSONS

BIDDULPH’S PARALYMPIC VISIT

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU?

IN THIS ISSUE:

Get ActiveRecognising Health and Fitness

Winter 2017

in the Staffordshire Moorlands

Now we've entered a new year, millions

of people across the country will have

embarked upon their New Year's

resolutions, many of which will have

been related to making a change to

their health or fitness.

For some, resolutions will still be going

strong, however, for others, for whatever

the reason may be, they will have

already faltered or be at risk of faltering.

Let's face it, with our busy lifestyles,

other commitments and previously

formed habits, sticking to a New Year's

resolution isn't easy!

So, what's the secret to success? How

do you stick to that New Year's fitness

or health resolution?

YOUR LEISURE CENTRE CAN HELP

Regardless of your background, whether

you've never stepped foot in a gym

before, or whether you're already a

regular user, the Staffordshire Moorlands

leisure centres are here to help.

Did you know, included in membership

within the Staffordshire Moorlands

leisure centres are:

- a free induction

- free personalised fitness programmes

- free programme reviews

If you have a health or fitness goal, the

leisure centres in the Staffordshire

Moorlands would love to hear about it!

The tailored one-to-one service which

the centres provide mean that if you

have a health or fitness goal which

you're looking to achieve, they are able

to help you generate the motivation

required to achieve it, as well as help

provide you with the required support.

For more information about how

your local leisure centre can help

you achieve your fitness goals, ask

at reception, or contact the centre

on the following telephone numbers:

Biddulph Valley: 01782 515005

Brough Park: 01538 373603

South Moorlands: 01538 753883

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU?

FITFIND YOURPERFECT

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT HEALTH ASSESSMENTS?

Each of the Staffordshire Moorlands

leisure centres is able to provide state-

of-the-art health assessments.

Working in partnership with Fitech, a

fitness technology specialist, the leisure

centres in Biddulph, Cheadle and Leek

are able to carry out the assessments

which feature a series of health related

questions and tests.

The tests allow you to find out all sorts

of information about your health:

Cholesterol Levels

Blood Glucose Levels

Body Mass Index - Height / Weight

Blood Pressure

Resting Heart Rate

Body Fat

Peak Flow - Lung Capacity

Flexibility

Following the tests, the results are

input into the Fitech system which

generates an easy to follow traffic light

system report, personal to the

individual.

Green = Good

Amber = Need for Improvement

Red = Below Average

The report allows you to understand

the key lifestyle issues that directly

affect your health and wellness whilst

identifying potential problem areas and

providing advice and positive change

suggestions that will make a difference.

The Fitness Technology Company

Did you know?If you're an expressions member,

the state-of-the-art health assessments are included as part of

your membership! A great way to track your progress.

WALKING FOR HEALTH

The Staffordshire Moorlands leisure

centres have launched an initiative to

get more people active by walking.

The fitness facilities in Biddulph,

Cheadle and Leek have joined 'Walking

for Health', England's largest network

of health walks which currently has

over 400 active schemes.

In England, half of all adults are not

active enough to benefit their health.

This means that they are at risk of

developing serious illnesses, such as

diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

The Walking for Health development

within the Staffordshire Moorlands

will see the establishment of 13

monthly community walks

throughout the district.

As part of the new scheme, there will

be short walks which are suitable for

beginners, as well as longer walks for

those who have more experience.

Walks within the area, organised by

Staffordshire Moorlands District

Council, have already been taking place.

These will be maintained, providing

more competent ramblers with

experiences of walks approximately

5-10 miles in duration once per month.

In addition, a new series of beginner

and short walks will be delivered from

each of the three leisure centres across

the Moorlands. Such walks will be

delivered on a weekly basis and will

create an additional 12 sessions each

month, all of which will be delivered via

leisure centre staff members and

volunteers. This action is intended to

act as a stepping stone into other forms

of activity, also creating a pathway to

the more advanced walks that are

delivered on a monthly basis.

If you wish to take part in the walks,

would like to volunteer or help, or are

looking for further information, please

contact Sports Development Manager,

Chris Hancock on 01538 373603 or

email chris.hancock01@parkwood-

communityleisure.co.uk.

The Staffordshire Moorlands leisure

centres are now officially Healthwatch

Staffordshire Champion Organisations.

Healthwatch Staffordshire is the

independent consumer champion for

health and social care in our local area,

delivered by Engaging Communities

Staffordshire. Their job is to champion

the consumer interests of those using

health and social care services across

the county and give local people an

opportunity to speak out about their

concerns and health care priorities.

Healthwatch Staffordshire continually

monitor, analyse, investigate and

challenge health and social care across

Staffordshire. By becoming a

Healthwatch Champion, it demonstrates

the commitment that each of the

leisure centres has to facilitating and

enhancing health and social care

services and opportunities within the

local community.

The leisure centres in Biddulph, Cheadle

and Leek will be supporting

Healthwatch engagement work within

the community whilst also being active

in representing and channeling the

views of local people by attending local

meetings and liaising with like-minded

professionals.

Healthwatch will support the current

range of programmes and future

projects ran within the leisure centres,

and will also identify ways that each of

the centres can improve to better serve

the elderly and the vulnerable members

of the community.

STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS HEALTHWATCH

FEATURED ACTIVITY - SWIMMING LESSONS

Swimming - whether you do it to have

fun, to keep fit, to compete, or not very

much at all, maybe once a year when on

holiday, it's a skill which has the

potential to save your life. With

drowning still being one of the most

common causes of accidental death in

children, being able to swim is still as

important as ever.

All three Staffordshire Moorlands

leisure centres offer swimming lessons

via their Aquazone swimming lessons

programme.

Delivered by fully qualified swimming

teachers, the Aquazone programme is

operated in partnership with the

Amateur Swimming Association (ASA),

offering lessons for both children and

adults on a group or one-to-one basis.

Not only is it about learning a life skill,

swimming also provides lots of health

benefits, helping to keep the heart and

lungs healthy, improving strength,

flexibility and posture, and increasing

stamina!

Swimming is a life skill which everyone

should have the opportunity to master

in their lifetime, and the Aquazone

programme within the Staffordshire

Moorlands leisure centres is dedicated

to ensuring that. Whatever their age or

ability, everyone can have fun whilst

learning to swim!

Contact a Staffordshire Moorlands

leisure centre today to learn how they

can help you and your family swim well.

OVER 55'S LEARN TO SWIM

An Over 55's learn to swim project is

underway at Biddulph Valley Leisure

Centre. Running throughout January,

February, March and April, the weekly

sessions are to motivate and encourage

currently inactive individuals that are

aged over 55 to learn to swim.

Working with Sport Across

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and

their ACCESS funding scheme, the

programme involves a weekly

swimming lesson for the duration of 16

weeks. Up until 08/03/2017, each

participant pays just £1 per session.

Then, for the remaining eight weeks,

participants will be invited to pay the

regular price of £5.15 per lesson. Each

participant who goes on to pay the

regular price will also gain access to

free public swimming at the centre,

allowing the individual to exercise

multiple times each week outside of

structured sessions.

After each session, participants are

welcome to stay in the leisure centre

and socialise in the café with a

complimentary cup of tea or coffee.

Sessions are on Wednesdays, 14:45-

15:30, and despite the project getting

underway, it's not too late to take part.

For more information, please contact

Sports Development Manager, Chris

Hancock for more information on

01782 515005, or email

chris.hancock01@parkwood-

communityleisure.co.uk.

AQUAZONE FOUNDATIONFoundation lessons focus on developing motor skills and an introduction to water

FOUNDATION

STAGE 1

STAGE 3

STAGE 2

STAGE 5

STAGES 8, 9 & 10

STAGE 7

STAGE 4

STAGE 6

THE AQUAZONE JOURNEY

AQUAZONE STAGES 8 – 10Once the swimmer has developed the core range of skills by completing stages 1-7 they can take part in either competitive swimming or rookie lifesaving

AQUAZONE STAGE 71. Linked routines using skills learnt over the past 6 stages 2. Complete an obstacle course 3. Swim up to 100m

AQUAZONE STAGE 61. Co-ordinated breathing2. Basic rescue techniques3. Swim 25m

AQUAZONE STAGE 51. Sculling and treading water2. Complete rotation3. Improving all strokes

AQUAZONE STAGE 41. Developing an understanding of buoyancy2. R efining kicking technique 3. Swimming 10 metres using a variety of strokes

AQUAZONE STAGE 31. More advanced safe entries to water 2. Travel up to 10 metres3. Rotation skills4. Water safety knowledge

AQUAZONE STAGE 21. Basic safe entries to the water2. Swimming aids can be used (e.g. arm bands or floats)

AQUAZONE STAGE 11. Basic safety awareness2. Basic water confidence and movement skills 3. Swimming aids can be used

6 WEEKS OF FREE FITNESS FOR FEMALES AGED 16-25

BIDDULPH’S PARALYMPIC VISIT

Ladies between the age of 16 and 25 in

the Staffordshire Moorlands are

currently able to claim 6 weeks of free

membership at the leisure centres in

Biddulph, Cheadle and Leek.*

Running in partnership with Sportivate,

a Sport England initiative which

provides funding to deliver increased

sporting opportunities to young people

- the programme aims to get those who

are not currently active, exercising.

Sport England has identified young

females as being a key focus group. It is

hoped that by running the 6 weeks free

membership programme, it will

encourage more young females to

become active, leading to them staying

active within later life.

To claim the free 6 week membership,

all you have to do is a pick up an

application form from reception, fill it in

and return it.

Those who wish to take part have until

the 19th of February to return their

completed application form.

*Terms and Conditions Apply.

In October, Biddulph Valley Leisure

Centre was paid a visit by

paralympic gold medalists,

Kadeena Cox and Ellie Simmonds.

Kadeena Cox was diagnosed with

multiple sclerosis at the age of 23.

Last year, at the age of 25, she

competed at the Rio 2016

Paralympics in both athletics and

cycling. At the Games, she took

home a gold in the T38 400m, a

silver in the T35-38 4x100m relay

and a bronze in the T38 100m. She

also set a new world record of

1:00.71 to take the gold medal in

the T38 400m.

Her fantastic achievements meant

that she became the first British

Paralympian to win golds in

multiple sports at the same Games

since Isabel Barr in 1984.

Ellie Simmonds has Achondroplasia,

a common cause of dwarfism, and

rose to fame when she competed in

the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing,

winning two gold medals for Great

Britain. She achieved that despite

being the youngest member of the

team at the age of 13. In 2012, she

won another two golds in London,

including setting a world record in

the 400m freestyle, before winning

a further gold medal at the Rio

Paralympics in 2016, this time

setting a world record for the

200m medley.

The Paralympics GB duo visited

Biddulph Valley Leisure Centre to

star in the production of an

interview, produced in order to

promote women's sport. The

interview, developed in partnership

with Virgin Money Giving and the

Women's Sports Trust, has been

made into a 10 film as part of a

series called '100% Giving'.

Work to redevelop three important play

spaces at Haregate in Leek is underway.

Funding for the work at Ball Haye

Recreation Ground, Haregate Hall play

area and The Waste open space has

been provided by the ASCENT housing

project, which provided new family

homes in the area, and the schemes will

be managed by Staffordshire Moorlands

District Council.

Following consultation with Leek Town

Council - who own and manage Ball

Haye recreation ground and have

provided funding for this particular

scheme,- the local community and

young people, the contract to deliver the

project has been awarded to HAGS-SMP

play company and work has now begun.

Councillor Brian Johnson, cabinet

member with responsibility for leisure,

sport and parks at the Council, said: “It's

great news that work will be starting on

these three sites early in the New Year.

“We've got some exciting designs which

will bring some much-needed

improvements to the local community

by creating fun and accessible play areas

at Ball Haye and Haregate Hall. We'll

also be installing new low-level

equipment at the Waste which respects

the natural surroundings in this location.

“These schemes will transform these

play areas and be a real boost for

Haregate. I look forward to seeing them

taking shape over the coming months.”

Leek Town Mayor, Councillor Rebecca

Done, added: “We were pleased to be

able to provide funding for the Ball Haye

element of the scheme and we look

forward to seeing work on this, and the

two other projects, start soon. I know

how much they will be welcomed by the

Haregate community.”

You can check out the designs on the

Council's new website –

www.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk – and at

Haregate Community Centre.

Work is expected to be complete by

Spring 2017.

Good health, improved self-esteem and

a better quality life – there is mounting

evidence proving that physical activity

drives a range of positive health and

social outcomes. Yet despite the

compelling reasons to get moving, many

children fail to achieve the recommended

level of physical activity. The Staffordshire

Moorlands leisure centres, working in

partnership with Les Mills - creator of the

world-leading adult group fitness classes,

are on a mission to change this.

Responding to the rapidly declining level

of physical activity in our youth, Les Mills,

has created BORN TO MOVE™, and it's

soon to be running from the Staffordshire

Moorlands leisure centres.

BORN TO MOVE™ features separate

programs for five age groups, starting

with two to three-year-olds through to

teens. Each class is carefully crafted to

meet the unique developmental needs

of that age group.

Classes for the younger children build

foundation fitness skills through

imagination, exploration and movement

set to specially created music. Whereas

classes for older kids feature top 40 hits

and focus on building dance, yoga,

martial arts and athletic skills.

To find out more about LES MILLS BORN

TO MOVE™, please contact your local

leisure centre or head to

www.lesmills.com/uk

Swimathon, the world's biggest

fundraising swim, uniting swimmers

around challenges and fundraising is back

on 7th - 9th April 2017 for the 30th year.

All levels of fitness, ability and age are

accounted for with the range of

Swimathon challenges. You can choose to

take on 1.5k, 2,5k or 5k or, with the

SimplySwim challenge, do your own

distance in your own time. You can even

form a relay team!

This year, Swimathon welcomes back

Marie Curie to the event as the official

charity partner. Marie Curie is the UK's

leading charity for people with any

terminal illness. Their nurses and hospices

offer expert care, support and guidance

to help people living with a terminal

illness and their families get the most

from the time they have left.

If you take part, whatever you do, the

money you raise will help people living

with any terminal illness, and their

families. Contact reception to find out

about how to register.

NEW JUNIOR FITNESS CLASSES SWIMATHON

HAREGATE, LEEK SCORES NEW PLAY AREAS HAT-TRICK

INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES

Each of the Staffordshire Moorlands

leisure centres is to host a 'GO TRI'

event in the up and coming months.

GO TRI is a fun way to access triathlon.

It's an initiative by Triathlon England

which provides people with little or no

experience in triathlon (swimming,

running and cycling) events the

opportunity to take part at a minimal

cost. All three leisure centres are set to

deliver an event within their swimming

pools and surrounding areas on the

following dates:

Brough Park: Saturday 22nd April

09:00-12:00 (Triathlon)

Biddulph Valley: Sunday 21st May

13:00-17:00 (Aquathlon)

South Moorlands: Sunday 25th June

09:00-12:00 (Triathlon)

Instead of a Triathlon, Biddulph Valley

Leisure Centre in Biddulph will be

hosting an aquathlon. The sport of

aquathlon consists of a continuous,

two-stage race involving swimming

followed by running. Triathlon on the

other hand also features cycling,

coming in between the swim and run.

Course details are to be released

shortly. If you think that GO TRI is

something you or someone else would

be interested in, register your interest at

reception today!

GENERAL KIT LIST:

DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC KIT:

SWIMMING

1 or 2 piece costume for ladies. Trunks

or shorts for men. Don’t forget goggles!

CYCLING

Any kind of bike: road, mountain or

hybrid. Even a shopping bike is fine, but

maybe take the basket off! All bikes

should be in a roadworthy condition

with brakes on both wheels. A cycling

helmet is essential, you won't be able to

race without one. You will need a top to

ride in, a t-shirt will do.

RUNNING

All you need is a pair of trainers.

GET INTO TRIATHLON

The three Staffordshire Moorlands

leisure centres host a range of inclusive

activities throughout the calendar year.

Below is a selection of the different

initiatives which are currently taking

place or coming up.

THINKING ACTIVE

Delivered by Biddulph Valley Leisure

Centre in partnership with the

University of the Third Age (U3A),

Staffordshire County Council, and Sport

Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-

Trent, Thinking Active is a project set to

deliver blocks of activity to those at risk

of developing vascular dementia.

Participants engage in forms of

physical activity followed by social and

fun cognitive stimulation therapy

sessions which are designed to

stimulate the brain. Staffordshire

University have an involvement in the

project, and are looking to generate

evidence to show that physical activity

is an effective tool to tackle vascular

dementia. Sessions are delivered every

Monday, 14:00-15:30.

ADULT DISABILITY MULTI-SPORT

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.

During the sessions, local disabled

people have the opportunity to engage

within a variety of sports and physical

activities such as; boccia, indoor kurling,

football, basketball, table cricket, and

much more, lead by qualified coaches.

INSPIRE

The Inspire disability multi-sports club

delivered at Brough Park Leisure Centre

is a fun, safe and enjoyable club that all

of the family can be involved with. The

club presents an opportunity to try a

range of different sports and physical

activities in a relaxed and informal

environment, guided by qualified

coaches. The club is open to all disabled

children (5-17 years old), siblings and

parents, and encourages the whole

family to come along, creating a fun

atmosphere where families are made to

feel part of something that is unique.

Sessions are delivered on selected

Sundays between 10:00-12:00 (please

note that swimming is only accessible

from 11:00-12:00).

FA ADULT DISABILITY FOOTBALL

Working in partnership with the

Staffordshire FA, a new adult disability

football session is to be introduced at

Brough Park Leisure Centre. The

sessions are open to everyone,

regardless of their ability or experience,

and will be delivered by qualified

coaches from both the Staffordshire FA

and Brough Park Leisure Centre. The

weekly sessions will commence on

Tuesday, 28th February.

For more information on the above

activities, please contact Sports

Development Manager, Chris Hancock,

on 01782 515005 or email

chris.hancock01@parkwood-

communityleisure.co.uk.

leisurecentre.com

SOUTH MOORLANDS LEISURE CENTRE

Allen Street, Cheadle, Staffordshire, ST10 1HJ

Tel: 01538 753883

BROUGH PARK LEISURE CENTRE

Fowlchurch Road, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 6AT

Tel: 01538 373603

BIDDULPH VALLEY LEISURE CENTRE

Thames Drive, Biddulph, Staffordshire, ST8 7HL

Tel: 01782 515005

All three Staffordshire Moorlands leisure centres are on Facebook.

Like their pages and:

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

GETTING SOCIAL

Be the first to know about exciting events at your centre

Receive updates about timetable amendments

Communicate with staff, instructors and your friends at the centre

View articles featuring practicalworkout tips and meal ideas

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.

WELCOMING YOUR VIEWS

YOUR LOCAL LEISURE CENTRES

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leisurecentre.com

@BroughParkLC

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