More than 10,000 children in and around Preston are to benefit from a football and healthy lifestyle scheme to tackle childhood obesity over the next year thanks to Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust and Preston North End Football Club.

The PCT is investing in the project because it is concerned about the impact of childhood obesity on health. On current trends a quarter of British children will be clinically obese by 2050 which could lead to catastrophic increases in diabetes, heart disease and cancers.

The PCT's commissioning team recognises that it's time for a new approach which enables children to meet one another, have fun and be healthy.

The Football Club and PCT are working in partnership and this is linked with the development of the Long Term Conditions Centre in the Club's new Invincibles Pavilion. Both recognise the importance and benefits of joining forces to tackle this growing health issue and welcome the opportunity to try a different approach to engage children in health matters which can be fun and have a far greater impact on their quality of life in the long term.

Qualified coaching staff will be on hand to give children from primary and secondary schools, top tips on physical exercise, the importance of good and timely nutrition, healthy lifestyles and warming up before exercise.

The programme will also develop team play, balance, agility and co-ordination as well as fundamental football techniques and skills.



During the first year, pupils from 45 schools across Central Lancashire will benefit from the programme. Plans are underway to extend the programme for a further four years which would help many more children.

Doreen Hounslea, director of commissioning and community engagement, at the PCT said: "Health and football are naturally linked and what better way for youngsters to enjoy keeping fit and healthy than with their local football club? We accept that exercise alone is not the only key - the children will have the opportunity to learn about fat and sugar content in foods, food labelling and how healthy eating is part of a healthy lifestyle."

Preston North End Chairman Derek Shaw, added: "We are pleased to be working in partnership with the NHS on a scheme which could even help us identify some future potential football players. I think it is a wonderful initiative which we are hoping will help more than 50,000 youngsters across Central Lancashire with their health and well-being over the next five years."

The scheme got underway on Friday afternoon, with a dozen pupils at Moor Nook Primary School in Ribbleton being put through their paces in phase one of the programme, which tests the 'ABC' qualities - agility, balance and co-ordination.



PNE youth development officer Darren Finch and coaches Scott Green, Simon Hampson and Ilyas Patel were on hand to test the year five pupils on their ability to run an 'Illinois-style' shuttle drill, balancing on their toes, and catch and throw with alternate hands against various time pressures and targets.

The Moor Nook youngsters - and many more from schools all over the region - will progress through a variety of drills and skills programmes throughout the duration of the ten-week course at each venue.



There was an additional incentive for the first crop of youngsters to perform to their maximum ability, with a TV crew from 'The Life Channel' heading along to produce a feature on the PCT and PNE's commitment to the wellbeing of the local community.