Fit Christchurch

All lessons structured to the Amateur Swimming Association

Cycling Proficiency at Mudeford Wood Community Centre

Great Soccer Coaching during the Holidays at Mudeford Wood

Walkers in the snow - photo-postcard competition entry 2004

The Fit Christchurch programme aims to increase the number of people in Christchurch who eat healthily, engage in regular physical activity and maintain a healthy body mass.

Love your town, now love your heart Christchurch

Christchurch has become one of the first places in the UK to wear its heart on its sleeve and sign up as a British Heart Foundation (BHF) Heart Town. Christchurch Borough Council has teamed up with the BHF to help put the heart into Christchurch as part of the charity's Mending Broken Hearts Appeal which has been launched to mark its 50^th anniversary this year.

Heart Towns are a brand new initiative from the nation's heart charity, bringing communities together through local fundraising and volunteering as well as helping to raise awareness of heart disease. It offers residents a raft of support services including schools initiatives, workplace health guidance and lifestyle information resources.

Speaking at the launch of Christchurch Heart Town at the Committee Room, Christchurch Borough Council, today (1 March), Neil Jarrett, BHF Fundraising Volunteer Manager in Christchurch says:

"We are delighted that Christchurch Borough Council has decided to become a Heart Town. Local people can get involved in the many activities and events that will happen throughout the year, details of these will be announced over the coming weeks. We will be working with the Christchurch community to raise awareness of heart disease and raise money for the BHF's Mending Broken Hearts Appeal. Please get involved and pledge your support today."

The Mayor of Christchurch, Cllr Nick Geary, explains why the town has joined this initiative: "Christchurch is very pleased to support the Heart Town Initiative by becoming one of the country's first Heart Towns. The concept of the Heart Town fits very well with the Fit Christchurch initiative we've been running with Christchurch Community Partnership for the past two years. By encouraging people to take more exercise we hope to be able to prevent heart disease. I do hope that our residents will also get behind the BHF's Mending Hearts Appeal."

Whoever you are, there's a way for you to get involved and give hope. Visit british heart foundation/heart towns (opens in a new window) or call your local Fundraising Volunteer Manager, Neil Jarrett on 07879 480835 or email jarrettn@bhf.org.uk. Out of hours, call 07764 290381 or email newsdesk@bhf.org.uk.

Fit Christchurch 2011

Fit Christchurch Annual Free Fun Day (pdf, 581kb) (opens in a new window) is on Saturday 17th September 2011 at Christchurch Quay (The Quomps) from 10am until 4pm. Come along for what is guaranteed to be a fun day, have a go at a number of activities.

Meet with local clubs and organisations that offer a multitude of services locally that you can get involved in and find out ways to improve your lifestyle be it through better diet or regular exercise.

Guaranteed fun for ALL ages.

The Fit Christchurch programme is led by Christchurch Borough Council, Christchurch Community Partnership and TwoRiversmeet Leisure Centre (opens in a new window) in conjunction with Dorset PCT, Christchurch (Grange) School Sport Partnership, and Christchurch Food Festival Education Trust.

There are five projects under the Fit Christchurch programme

Engaging young people who are not in education, employment or training in sports and physical activity
Increasing the number of people who regularly go out walking as a physical exercise
Increasing the number of people cycling to work, school and other social activities
Promoting healthy eating through commissioning of nutrition and cookery courses for families, parents, young people and children
Promotion of healthy lifestyles through an annual Fit Christchurch Initiative or event and the creation of an environment for Children and Young People (CYPs) in and out of school, employees and residents to engage in some form of physical activity on a regular basis

So

Would you like to participate in sports and other physical activities for at least two hours a week?
Do you want to start walking regularly as a physical exercise, train as a walk leader to lead and support other walkers or coordinate organised weekly, monthly or quarterly walks in your area?
Do you want to join the Back to Fitness Cycle ride, start cycling regularly to work, school, your local pub or church?
What about joining others to share ideas on preparing and eating healthy and economic meals?

Then

Please get in touch with us using the contact details below

Do you

Run a sports club or organisation in Christchurch or a physical activity club such as dancing or walking?

Then

Please register your sport or activity with Fit Christchurch by completing Fit Christchurch registration form (PDF, 61kb) (opens in a new window) and returning it to the Civic Offices

Or do you want to

Get involved in an activity or a sport
Get fitter
Be a player or a volunteer

Then

See the list which gives links to sports clubs and more informal activities such as walking, dance and scouting in the area.

The list includes links to leisure centres, adult education providers (many of these run introductory and fitness sessions) and commercial organisations offering assistance with weight loss.

Specific events will be posted on the events page.

Christchurch Borough Council, in partnership with the South and East Primary Care Trust, has put together a number of Health walks in Christchurch.

New

Introducing Christchurch Tennis Facility (opens in a new window) , home of Christchurch Tennis Club, Tuckton Tennis Club and linked with Mudeford Wood Tennis Club. This facility has four macadam tennis courts, two of which are floodlit. There is a small club house and players can sit and relax with a cup of tea or snack from the small tuck shop after a game of tennis.