Exercise Provision
by Jay Hawman
Children & Young People
Initiative 1 – Westgate Hoopstars Basketball Club
It is located at the center for sport, Westgate Road, this is only around 5 minutes away from my house.
It runs from under 12’s up to under 18’s, so all ages are welcome. They train on Tuesday’s from 5-9:30. They have a partnership with Newcastle Eagles that provide multiple community basketball sessions.
The center for sport is currently privately owned which means you need to pay to train. All abilities are welcome as they will have qualified coaches with the ability to teach anyone.
Initiative 2 – Mini – Ruggers
Mini-ruggers aims to help children between the ages of 4-9 to begin to learn key skills in teamwork, hand and eye coordination, and self-esteem.
They also aim to inspire children of all ages to enjoy playing, and being involved in, rugby.
Sunday’s 11am – 12pm. Fun introduction to rugby, no experience required.
Each session is 45 minutes long and is limited to 14 children.
• 11.30am for 4-5 year olds
• 12.30pm for 6-7 year olds
• 1.30pm for 8-9 year olds
You would have access all saints sports centre with balls for learning to catch and throw.
The advantages of the basketball club is that they run all the way through to many age groups. Unfortunately you do have to pay to train, but because it is run by the Newcastle Eagles you know that the training is worth it.
For the mini rugger class it is great as it teaches young children to learn to catch, throw and develop team-work skills. It is only an hour long, which is a downside as some may feel they need more time. I would personally recommend the basketball club as it provides progression all the way through the ages.
Over 50's
It is a fitness session that takes place on a Tuesday in the park, 3:30-5:30. Activities include, health walks, Nordic walks, sensory gardening, boules, or indoor activities if it rains. It is in a central location wit bus and metro routes around the city.
Initiative 2 - Rookie Sports
Sessions are run at various community venues and locations across Newcastle, for young people, families and over 50's groups.
The Target Golf programme is very successful in engaging people of all ages and abilities, including people with limited mobility and those who do not traditionally take part in physical activities.
The focus is on providing access for all and helping people improve their health, quality of life, increase their social networks and develop new skills.
We travel to venues that are convenient to local people, that is, people with poor mobility, living in sheltered accommodation, and community groups.
They can provide programmes tailored to the needs of: schools, youth groups, family learning projects, community organisations, over 50’s, corporate events and fundraisers.
As well as running sessions for young people, over 50s and families, we also run intergenerational sessions. We can provide taster sessions as well as regular coaching sessions. We also organize matches between different groups.
I personally would say rookie sports is much better as there are way more options of sports to choose from, and they provide a range of sports such a golf, tennis, walking etc. they also have a competitive side, for those who still enjoy competing even in an old age. both are free so that is an advantage for both.
Disabled
Percy Hedley Eagles, in partnership with the Newcastle Eagles are developing the sport across the North East and have a number of teams playing in the National League at all levels. Sessions are available on Tuesday, from 7:45-8:45, at sports central, they are a £10 one off payment for Semester 2 or Pay and Play for £1 per session.
Initiative 2 - Walbottle Rhino's Football
Walbottle Rhinos is a club for people with a learning disability who want to play football. They are a friendly club and all coaches and officials are CRB checked and are qualified coaches.
Participants aged 13 or over can train, with over 16’s able to play in the league
Disabled parking available.
Training every Wednesday from 18.00 – 20.00.
Cost: £3.00 per player (carers do not pay).
i perosnally would say the rhino's football club is the better initiative because all the coaches are able to teach disabled people and have proper qualificiations. they incorporate all ages, and they have disabled parking too. it is £3 which could be a disadvantage.
Exercise Referral Scheme
To be eligible, the person must be over the age of 16 and be registered with a GP practice in the Newcastle Upon Tyne area. participants must meet the referral criteria and motivated to want to actually do physical activity levels.
Eligible Conditions
Only certain conditions can be referred, such as at least one risk factor of CHD, osteoporosis, controlled diabetes, suffer from mild/moderate arthritis or osteoarthritis or has low back weakness and inflexibility. Also if someone has unhealthy weight or if they require musculo-skeletal rehab.
Conditions that cannot be referred are, ischemic heart disease if you have high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes 1, severe asthma, vascular diseases, unstable mental health, heart failure.
4 point plan
Access - Patient's current activity levels, the GPPAQ can help and ensure the patient meets the referral criteria.
Explain - To the patient what is available
Ask - The patient if they are motivate and wish to referred to be an active scheme.
Refer - The patient using the Active 4 Life referral scheme.
Where to do it?
it is a 12 week programme of support with a qualified and friendly instructions. it is all personalised and has reviews every few weeks. One in the local area to me is the LiveWell programme.
What else can you be referred to?
As well as sports classes, you can be referred to sports therapists, physios, massage practitioners.
Benefits of Exercise
Psychological Benefits
One of the main things that disabled people get out of sport is it boosts self-confidence and therefore can help prevent depression. This is important as they are already disabled and don't want to give themselves more illnesses. It also is good because it boosts self-confidence which helps them interact and talk with people alot more which is good so they can meet new people and friends.
As muscle definition is improved and body fat reduced, this can help to make you feel better about your appearance and as you feel better about your appearance the more confident and more happiness you would feel within yourself. This is important so that you feel more part of groups.
Physiological Benefits
In combination with a balanced diet, it can help regulate weight. This is important because if you don't maintain a healthy weight, it can put you at risk for more diseases such as heart related problems. For someone who is already disabled, giving themselves more issues is the last thing they want.
Evidence suggests that active people live a longer life, achieving the recommended levels of moderate intensity physical activity can reduce premature mortality by between 20-30%. For disabled people, who already have a shortened lifespan, anything that can extend their lives should be done.
Older Adults
Psychological Benefits
Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters improvements in mood and feelings of well-being. Depression and Anxiety can lead to more problems an older person definitely doesn't want, such as an increased blood pressure and it will mess with your emotions too.
Doing more exercise, as an older person, can help improve your confidence which can, in turn, help them to meet new people. This cycle continues as they meet more and more people they become more and more confident.
Physiological Benefits
Doing sport helps strengthen your bones, which is important for old people because when they live independently, if they fall, it reduces the risk of first of all falling and if they do fall it prevents damaging serious damage.
Sport also helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis. in old people joint pain and arthritis is a very prevalent condition in old people because over time the joints rub together and cause pain, so sport can help prevent that.
Children & Young People
Psychological Benefits
Confidence is very important in young people in order to help their developments, and sport can help increase this. Confidence is important in young people as it can help them feel better about themselves and gives them the confidence to meet new people and make new friends which helps them alot when young.
According to studies, doing sport from a young age can help keep them out of trouble with police and in school. I think this is probably because they feel fulfillment within sport and therefore doesn't need to do anything else for attention or through boredom as they can use all their energy at sport.
Physiological Benefit
Sports participation promotes health and wellness not only through childhood but throughout a childs lifetime.Sports such as swimming and golf are especially beneficial because the child can continue to play as an adult, benefiting from the physical activity. Children who participate in sports might also be more aware of healthy food choices. Although sports participation is an excellent avenue to promote health and wellness, parents and coaches must encourage healthy living and be positive role models as well.
Finally it can help teach them motor skills such as hand eye co-ordination, catching and throwing. These skills will be used throughout life and it's good and important that these skills are learned early on.