NHS Norfolk is urging children and their parents to stay active over the school summer holidays, and is promoting a Change4Life initiative designed to help them.

The Change4Life “Fun Wheel” aims to make sure that families meet the 60 minutes of activity which they need to take every day to help maintain good health.

The wheel is a spin-the-wheel game with lots of ideas for fun activities. It is ideal for children’s team challenges, parties or family trips to the park, or just encouraging children to be more active. Ideas include dancing, running on the spot, and star jumps.

Hannah Critten, NHS Norfolk’s Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives Co-ordinator (Childhood Obesity) said: “About a third of children in Norfolk are overweight or obese, and the school summer holidays are the perfect time for children – and their parents – to make a commitment to be more active.

“The Fun Wheel aims to provide inspiration for a range of children’s activities. We want to encourage children away from the TV set and computer games, and towards more active, and fun, pursuits instead.”

To find out more, visit the Change4Life website at www.nhs.uk/change4life.
There, you will have access to an interactive summer activity planner and a competition to win a family holiday with Eurocamp.

You can order your own Fun Wheel by visiting the Change4Life website or calling 0300 123 1018.

There are also many other activities for children to take part in across the county, throughout the school summer holidays.

Hannah added: “From Star:track athletics courses and Sportscamps organised by Active Norfolk, to Soccer Schools run by Football in the Community, there’s something enjoyable to encourage children to be more active, whatever their age.


“NHS Norfolk works with Active Norfolk, part-funding the post of Physical Activity and Health Co-ordinator. We also work closely with Norwich City FC/Football in the Community, funding courses such as MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do-It) to encourage children to be more active.”

In addition, Change4Life will launch a Facebook page next month (august) that will provide a forum for families to exchange ideas and invite each other to take part in local activities.

Jonathan Williams, NHS Norfolk’s Assistant Director of Public Health, said: “NHS Norfolk is pleased to promote this new Change4Life initiative, and to support schemes run by Active Norfolk and Football in the Community.

“Research has shown that children who are overweight or obese tend to remain so as adults, putting themselves at risk of a range of health problems and diseases, including diabetes and cancer.

“We hope the Change4Life Fun Wheel will encourage people of all ages to think about activities they can incorporate into the school holidays and improve their health as a result, and we hope they will decide to enrol on a course locally too.”

For information about healthy eating projects and those designed to get you more active, call the NHS Norfolk Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 587 4132.

For details about children’s activities organised by Active Norfolk or Norwich City FC/Football in the Community, visit their websites at www.activenorfolk.org or www.fitc.org