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“It’s not easy to make change at my age,” says James Priestley, “However, I wanted to give myself a better chance of living longer and being fit and healthy and that’s were FIT FANS comes in.”

James joined FIT Blackpool at Blackpool FC Community Trust. ��The 12-week health programme, which funded by Sport England through the National Lottery is run at over 30 �������� clubs, provides those aged 35-65 with an opportunity to make a life-style changes, to help lose weight, get fitter and lead a more active life.

At first James had doubts about joining thinking he might be judged or he the exercise would be too hard, but he explains how FIT Fans is different,

“The camaradiere is brilliant it really helps you get through. Everyone is treated as an individual with individual goals. There’s no judgement and you go at your own pace, starting off slowing and increasing as the weeks go by. It’s 12 weeks to change your life. Each week you cover something different and make a small change in your life, eating better, exercising more. In 12 weeks these small changes have turned into a one big difference”

The changes James made to his lifestyle have certainly made a big difference to his own life as he explains, “There is no doubt that I feel so much better within myself, let alone looking better. I no longer have sleep apnoea and I am able to have a good night’s sleep. My blood pressure has reduced and is now considered to be in the normal range. I feel so much more active and no longer crave for the snacks which had become part and parcel of everyday life. Taking exercise has become so much easier and I no longer get out of breath so easily. I have dropped 6 inches from my waist size as well as a noticeable reduction in body shape/size’.��

��FIT FANS has helped thousands of people, not just football fans, to achieve long-term improvements in weight loss, physical activity, diet and general well-being.

The main aims of the programme are to:

• Improving eating habits
• Cut down on alcohol
• Increasing your activity levels – one step at a time!
• Reducing weight and waistline measurement

Click here for more information and find a FIT FANS near you

2020 has been challenging, but Norwich City’s Community Sports Foundation has continued its sterling work for the people of Norfolk

During the lockdown, the Foundation launched the Canaries Covid-19 Community Support Project thanks to a donation of over £200k from the first team squad and directors. The project has two phases, response and recovery: an initial response to help vulnerable members of the community during lockdown, and a longer-term plan to help the community to recover from the impact of lockdown such as inactivity, social isolation, and unemployment.

Members of the first team, Club staff, and Foundation staff made several thousand wellbeing calls to potentially vulnerable season ticket holders, and deliveries of food and activity packages were made to a range of charities and local causes.��Throughout lockdown, the Foundation team adapted quickly to continue their community support remotely, through the development of an app, live and recorded online sessions, and other support for usual and new participants.

While balancing the challenges that everyone is facing in 2020, the Foundation is nearing completion of the construction of its community hub The Nest. The first phase of the project, which saw the rejuvenation of a disused sports facility on the outskirts of Norwich, was completed in late 2018 and included the renovation of the existing clubhouse and relaying of seven grass football pitches.

A second phase includes a full-size floodlit 3G pitch, which has been open over the summer of 2020, and a brand-new building housing two multi-use areas, an IT suite, and accessible changing facilities to help the Foundation increase its community reach by over 12,000 people a year.

The Build the Nest fundraising campaign is nearing its conclusion thanks to an injection of £500,000 from Norwich City FC, match-funding the efforts of supporters and fundraisers to raise the final £1million of the £4.6million total cost.��The Foundation’s team are working to reach the final target in time for the completion of construction in the coming months.

Recently, Norwich City season ticket holders and members showed their pride in the Club’s community presence by donating over £175,000 of potential rebates in order to help the Foundation reduce its lost fundraising revenue in 2020 from cancelled events.

��“Over the past 3 years I have piled on the weight especially when I changed my job. I lost all self confidence in myself.” says Lisa Allen.

However things changed for Lisa when she joined FIT BAGGIES, West Bromwich Albion’s Healthy lifestyle programme.�� Lisa adds,

“I was ashamed at how big I was and knew I really needed to do something about it. However, I surprised myself by emailing Lyndsey at West Bromwich Albion Community Trust and asking about the FIT programme and then joining up. What encouraged me to join was the fact that it was all around my age group.”

The 12-week programme, which funded by Sport England through the National Lottery is run at over 30 �������� clubs, provides those aged 35-65 with an opportunity to make a life-style changes, to help lose weight, get fitter and lead a more active life.

Having lost an impressive 8.8kg on the programme Lisa is now living a much healthier lifestyle, she continues,

“The programme has given me the will power to actually do something about my weight. After the first week of doing some exercise at the programme I got the bug and started do some exercise at home for 3-4 ��times a week. I am now exercising 7 days a week and am now starting to get more movement in my joints as well.”

“I got to meet a great set of people on the programme. Every session we attended was great fun and not once did I feel uncomfortable. ��It has helped me gain confidence in myself with going out and stop feeling ashamed all the time. “

Click here for more information and find a FIT FANS near you

Ashur Cali, 16, from Leeds has a whole new outlook on volunteering and a more positive outlook on life after completing the National Citizen Service’s (NCS) ‘Keep Doing Good’ programme.

Had 2020 gone to plan, Ashur, was due to go away on the traditional NCS programme this summer to live independently, meet new people, develop new skills and contribute to making a difference in the�� community. However, social distance restrictions meant this was not possible, ��Ashur was still able to make a difference in the community through completing NCS’s‘Keep Doing Good’ programme. ‘Keep Doing Good’ aims to pledge 1 million volunteering hours into local communities to help them bounce back from the impact of COVID-19.

Before the two week ‘Keep Doing Good’ programme, Ashur thought that volunteering was limited to working for free for a company and wasn’t aware of the charity work he was able to get involved with. Whilst on ‘Keep Doing Good’ Ashur took part in some volunteering at Shine community garden in Leeds. The gardens provide the local community with a scenic place escape to, relax and enjoy a little bit of countryside in the heart of the city. ��After helping with the renovating of the gardens, Ashur has a much better understanding of volunteering and is keen to volunteer again the future. He would also like others to be inspired by what the group have done, and get involved with volunteering themselves.

Ashur said

“I’ve not only volunteered and done some good but I now feel a lot better than I did before starting the program. My time has been spent doing something worthwhile and bringing something positive to another person’s day

Whilst on ‘Keep Doing Good’ Ashur developed his teamwork skills. The group was tasked with gathering and debating ideas for a Social Action Project before presenting them as a group.

Ashur said

“At the start of the two weeks, I would have put myself forward for a leadership role, leading and making decisions, assuming I was the best at the job. However, the time with NCS has taught me the value of stepping back and listening to others and that not only my voice matters in a collaborative environment. Now, I loosen the reigns in a way and allow other members of the team to make a choice and I will follow their leadership, more of a team player than before the program.

Stacey Fannan, Team Leader, at Learn By Design noticed a change in Ashur and said

“On day one Ashur was a quietly confident young person. Always keen to give an answer or volunteer to take charge. He has been a driving force amongst the team from the get-go. However, a noticeable change in Ashur is although he is confident and first to offer an answer or response, he would doubt himself in his answer especially if challenged. Now on the final day, Ashur is quick to answer and able to confidently give justification for his answers and positively meet challenges. He also made positive development in his teamwork and listening skills and can work collaboratively to achieve team goals.”

To find out more about ‘Keep Doing Good’ visit��