The Food and Fitness for Families Programme is a project that aims to encourage families with children aged 12 and under to improve their eating habits and become more active.
Following the success of two previous courses and through a successful application to the Big Lottery Fund, the scheme has expanded to include families in the Plasnewydd, Penylan, Canton, Butetown and Grangetown areas as well as neighbouring wards that include Cathays, Riverside, Adamsdown, Splott, Ely and Caerau.
Project organisers are now looking to recruit volunteers for the third programme.
The project is aimed at Cardiff residents who have an interest in healthy living and who would like to gain training and experience whilst working with local communities.
Volunteers are provided with accredited training qualifications in several areas so they can become Healthy Home Tutors and support and encourage families to eat healthily, get active and play together.
Training is delivered in three phases and includes accredited courses such as Agored Cymru (OCN) Community Food and Nutrition skills, Food Hygiene and First Aid. Training also covers risk assessment , Health and Safety, child protection as well as play and physical activity awareness.
After each phase of training a different volunteering opportunity is available and include assisting in community based sessions with children, delivering five practical sessions to a family in their home and supporting weekly parent discussion groups in community based sessions.
Sessions explore food awareness which include healthy eating, food labelling and practical ways to make meals and recipes healthier. There are also physical activity sessions which include fun games, a park visit and different sporting activities in community settings.
Executive member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “The Food and Fitness for Families initiative is growing from strength to strength as it focuses on the importance of health and fitness for everyone.
“As well as benefitting families across the city it offers valuable training and the experience to people who wish to volunteer.
“Volunteers can play a vital role in improving the lifestyle of a family and are part of an important team who continue to make this programme a success”.
To qualify as a volunteer, candidates must be 18 or over and have an interest in health such as healthy eating, physical activity or play.
For further information on how to become a volunteer on the project please contact
029 2078 8416 or email [email protected].
The first training phase will take place in March 2011 and volunteers will be supported by the project team. We will be continuously recruiting and training volunteers until March 2012.
The Food and Fitness for Families Project is delivered by Cardiff Council in partnership with Cardiff & Vale University Health Board and is funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
