As Leeds Rhinos Foundation enters its 12th year of operation in 2017, the charity will be staying committed to improving all areas of life in the community by offering more community provision under its rapidly growing health agenda.
With an ever increasing public emphasis on healthy living and the importance of preventing both long and short term preventive illnesses, Leeds Rhinos’ official charity will continue to work in partnership with the NHS and Leeds City Council as well as other partners throughout 2017.
The charity will kick start the year with two Try Club programmes in January running for the first time both during a daytime slot and an evening session.
The 12 week course, which was devised in partnership with Leeds Public Health, will this year run a day class on Mondays from 1pm to 2.30pm and an evening class on Wednesdays from 6pm to 7.30pm. The classes are for men aged 18+ with a body mass index of 25 or above .
Last year 30 men completed the course and achieved their goal of weight loss and changing their lifestyles to a more healthy one. The first group who graduated from Try Club even went onto complete the Leeds 10k just months after completing the course.
Try Club is delivered at Headingley Carnegie Stadium and combines both physical activity and class room learning, and on completion of the 12-week course the aim is for every participant to be educated, motivated and committed to getting healthy and staying fit.
The Foundation will also renew programmes offered on a weekly and monthly basis in 2017 with the return of the ‘Rhinos Active Social Group’ and the ‘In Touch Club’ for people living with Dementia.
Rhinos Active Social which has been supported by the Roundhay Rotary Club over the past few months, who provided a £1800 donation to help support the running of the programme which encourages gentle physical activity in over 60’s to tackle issues such as social isolation, loneliness and risk of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours.
Sessions run every Tuesday 10:30am-12:30pm and cost just £2 per week to cover the cost of guest instructors, who deliver a wide variety of activities including beginner's yoga, tai chi and chair based exercise, walking Netball as well as many other dance related sessions.
Also continuing in 2017 will be the monthly 'In Touch' club for people living with Dementia in partnership with the Leeds City Council Peer Support Service. The sessions which are accessible via referrals provide attendees with the chance to enjoy afternoons of reliving fond memories of Rugby League at different locations around Headingley Carnegie Stadium.
The meetings, supported by Peer Support Coordinators from Leeds City Council, offer the groups a chance to bring in and discuss historic memorabilia, take a tour of the stadium, see club trophies first hand and take part in engaging discussion with peers also living with the condition.
For more information on accessing the sessions visit www.leeds.gov.uk
Leeds Rhinos Foundation Partnership Manager Dan Busfield said:
“We are looking forward to renewing some of our successful programmes from last year but also excited about what 2017 brings in terms of extending our provision and launching some new programmes with partners who have come on board with us which will target more people across the city.”
For more information on Health Initiatives available contact Laura Buckle at
Laura.buckle@leedsrhinosfoundation.org