Shine Health Bus Parks up at LIW to Help Fight Childhood Obesity
LIW, in partnership with Life Fitness , were delighted that the SHINE Health Bus was parked up in the exhibition hall at the NEC for the duration of the Show.
The double decker bus is a new addition to the highly successful SHINE programme – Self Help, Independence , Nutrition and Exercise – which has already helped hundreds of overweight youngsters to boost their confidence and lead a healthier lifestyle. Designed by young people from the SHINE project, the Health Bus comes complete with a Life Fitness equipped gym.
SHINE, which has been running for four years, aims to help encourage and support obese young people to gain a range of skills in order to become healthier and fitter. The double decker bus was purchased and converted thanks to a successful bid for £45,000 of government funding from the National Youth Agency.
The upper deck of the bus has been transformed into a Life Fitness equipped gym complete with a Circuit Series Squat machine, recumbent bike and rowing machine donated by the company. This compliments the neighbouring Nintendo Wii centre which provides an engaging and entertaining, calorie-burning workout, particularly appealing to youngsters.
Kath Sharman, Director of SHINE, comments: “ Life Fitness has provided an amazing opportunity to make our dreams a reality. It really shows how partnerships can work together to promote healthier lifestyles for young people – we are grateful for their support.”
Lawra Joseph, Marketing Manager at Life Fitness , says: “This is an incredibly worthy project – a healthy lifestyle is something that all children should have the opportunity to follow regardless of their background. So we were only too pleased to assist with the installation of fitness equipment for the bus. We’re proud to be making a contribution to this fantastic scheme and look forward to the development of an ongoing partnership with the SHINE project.”
As well as a nutritional education facility, the lower deck of the bus has an emotional well-being centre where young people can seek guidance on increasing their confidence and self-esteem, work through depression caused by life trauma, and confront bullying which obese children often face.
Meeting all of the government’s ‘Every Child Matters’ outcomes, SHINE aims to help young people understand their weight problem so that they can manage it more effectively. Kath Sharman explains: “This is achieved, not only by concentrating on food and eating, but by promoting a complete attitudinal change to lifestyles. SHINE incorporates the three interventions advocated by all obesity guidelines, namely nutritional therapy, exercise and behavioural modification. The latter includes psychological therapies to address issues related to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and confidence, body image and bullying.”
Luke Pyatt (14) and Chelsea Wild (14), who have already lost eight stones between them on the programme, have been sharing their experiences with other youngsters on the Health Bus. Luke said: “The Life Fitness equipment is fantastic – working out on the top deck of a bus is much more exciting than exercising in a gym.” And Chelsea added: “Overweight young people fear going to the gym, the bus is small and private and it makes you feel safe.”
Following its visit to LIW, the SHINE Health bus will be piloted in schools around Sheffield until the end of the year.
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