LifeLEISURE SET TO GET STOCKPORT MOVING WITH actiSPORT

Stockport residents are being encouraged to get moving with £17,000 of National Lottery funding.

The cash, awarded to Marketing Stockport member lifeLEISURE through Sport England, will fund a pioneering project called ActiSPORT, which will give 100 local residents the chance to take part in a six-month sporting activity programme.

ActiSPORT, aimed at sedentary or obese people, will see each participant given state-of-the-art accelerometer technology to track and monitor their activity levels throughout the two-phase programme. Measurements will be taken at the start and end of the project by lifeLEISURE’s highly trained fitness professionals, which will show improvements in health to participants.

Accelerometers are small devices that monitor movement and can tell the difference between accidental movement and intentional exercise. The ‘Pebble’ accelerometers are small devices that calculate steps, distance, calories burned and whether the movement was moderate or of a vigorous intensity. This data can then be transferred easily and wirelessly to the actiLIFE web-based portal enabling participants as well as coaches, to go online (and log on) and check activity levels.

The first phase will see each person take part in six weeks of moderate activity, such as walking, cycling or jogging before moving on to 20 weeks of coaching in a sport of their choice, such as swimming and tennis.  Each session will cost as little as £1 with the sessions being led by coaches to help increase confidence in their chosen sport. Participants will also receive support and motivational via email.

lifeLEISURE, who manage an extensive range of sports and leisure facilities on behalf of Stockport Council, will work in partnership with local sports clubs to give participants access to a wide range of recreational sports. 

Michelle Childs, Senior Physical Activity Development Officer at lifeLEISURE said:

“People can be put off ‘getting active’ by the thought that it means going to the gym, but there are plenty of other ways they can get moving.  ActiSPORT will provide personal coaches to discuss goals and provide specialist advice to help individuals meet their goals.  The gentle six-week introduction to the programme, it really is suitable for anyone.”

To qualify for actiSPORT you must currently participate in less than 30 minutes of exercise a week, and not be a member of a fitness facility.  You must have no health problems that would limit you from taking part in a six-month programme and should be able to travel to a lifeLEISURE facility for monthly coaching sessions.  Places, which are limited to just 100 in the first wave, will be chosen on a first come first serve basis, so to book your place call lifeLEISURE on 0161 482 0900 (option 7) or email gpreferral@lifelesiure.net 

ActiSPORT is a pilot project for the ‘Make Your Move’ campaign run by Sporta, which represents cultural and leisure trusts throughout the UK. Sporta has been awarded £2m of National Lottery funding from Sport England to deliver innovative projects that will help more people play sport.