Rochdale AFC has been awarded £2,000 thanks to the FA Community Shield Fund Distribution scheme.
The money will be used by Dale’s Community Trust to help promote a health project in the Rochdale Metropolitan Borough.
The Club’s Community Trust will work with disadvantaged communities promoting social inclusion, integration, as well as community cohesion in order to create safer, stronger and more respectful communities through the development of young people’s potential.
The aims are to:
• increase male and female participation in football and/or volleyball and/or basketball
• with a focus on Spotland & Falinge, and Smallbridge & Firgrove Wards
• inter-relate the sports activity with the aim of also reducing health inequalities in Rochdale
Participants will be offered a choice of football, volleyball and basketball following a consultation with residents’ associations. There will also be a focus on diet and nutrition, smoking and alcohol and, most importantly, on the generation of individualised action plans for further exercise and healthy living options. These plans will include diet/nutrition and physical activity programmes and targets regarding BMI and weight, smoking and alcohol incidence, and physical activity options and incidence.
Keith Hicks, Head of Dale’s Community Trust, commented: “The award is fantastic news to us as it means we can develop this health programme in the Borough as part of the numerous activities ongoing through the year, which last year saw over 30,000 people taking part in thirty five different projects.
“We are continually developing our activities to benefit the local community so if anyone has any worthwhile ideas, I would be very interested to hear them.”
You can call Keith on 07958593121, or email him at keith.hicks@rochdaleafc.co.uk