Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust can help you improve your health and get fit...
In the current cost of living crisis, for example, there are two programmes on offer completely free thanks to various partners and funders:
Shape Up - free 12-week weight management course
First up is Shape Up, delivered by the Trust across Hertfordshire (upcoming courses in Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, South Oxhey, Watford, and Welwyn), and funded by the Premier League and PFA Community Fund, and Hertfordshire County Council.
Shape Up is a free 12-week weight management course designed for adults aged 18 to 65 years old with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or over, or for those from ethnic minority backgrounds with a BMI of 28 or over.
Participants meet up weekly for a 90 minute session, comprising of a 45 minute educational segment and a 45 minute physical activity session.
These two segments are delivered with the aim of improving participants’ healthy lifestyle knowledge, to ensure a sustainable weight loss rather than the typically short-term benefit of a diet-based programme.
Backed by local GPs, participants can get involved with Shape Up by signing up through their local surgery, or by emailing or visiting the Trust’s website.
Speaking about the programme, previous participant 46-year-old Rob said: “I can’t recommend this course highly enough, do it! Take 90 minutes out of your weekly routine, change your life; take small steps but you will reap the benefits. I have!”
You can register for this programme HERE or contact Shaun Murphy on 07938 486378 or shaun.murphy@watfordfc.com.
Active Watford and Three Rivers - face-to-face consultations
Next up is Active Watford and Three Rivers, funded by the Premier League and PFA Community Fund, Watford Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council, Herts Valley CCG, and Watford Community Housing.
Active Watford and Three Rivers is a programme that works with inactive people in Watford and Three Rivers, who are at risk from cardiovascular disease and/or mild to moderate mental health issues, helping them become active.
The programme does this by providing face-to-face consultations, delivered by the Trust’s Health and Wellbeing Manager, lasting for up to a year. Individuals will look at why they would like to become active, and what barriers they might face, establish their goals and confidence levels as well as create action plans.
As part of this process, a consultation will look at what activities or sports the client will enjoy so that they can be signposted to local sports clubs, exercise classes, leisure centres, gyms or community exercise programmes based on their needs.
You can self-refer into the scheme if you are aged over 16 years old, live in Watford and Three Rivers, and do less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week. To self-refer click HERE or contact Alison Goodchild on 07710 096398 or alison.goodchild@watfordfc.com
The Trust’s community hub in North Watford, the Meriden Community Centre, also has a fully equipped gym, available at a lower cost than mainstream gyms. To enquire about this, why not pop in to see the team at WD18 9ET or contact them at MeridenReception@watfordfc.com
Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust
For general information on these programmes or any of the Trust’s other projects, you can contact community@watfordfc.com, visit the Trust’s website HERE or follow them on social media HERE.
