MEND
MEND is a worldwide initiative aimed at reducing the levels of childhood obesity across the globe. Active Life is one of the delivery partners of the programme and aims to work closely with schools, healthcare professionals and individual families in the area to assist in the delivery of the MEND programme to local families. The current MEND programmes within the Canterbury District are being managed by NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent Health Improvement Team
If you struggle as a family with healthy eating, getting enough exercise and weight control and have a child aged 7-13 you may qualify for the MEND programme. Highlights and key elements of the programme include:
- Easy to understand nutritional advice
- Twice weekly fun and activity sessions
- Top tips and problem solving
- Making new friends
- Fun supermarket tour for label reading practice
- Food Fest – A great chance to try out lots of home-made Mend friendly goodies
MEND stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition.....Do it! and focuses not just on improving the quality of nutrition and exercise but also tries to create a change of attitude and behaviours in the children and families to ensure long-term lifestyle changes.
The MEND programme is available to 7-13 year olds and is a proven and highly effective mix of exercise, nutrition and discussion that involves not just the children themselves but also their families.
Many of the children who have participated in the MEND scheme have been referred by their healthcare practitioners but many have ‘self referred’. MEND has been proven to work using valid research methods and is therefore highly effective; not only that, it's fun, exciting, challenging and above all non-judgemental for both the children and adults taking part.
You can find out more about MEND by visiting their website at www.mendprogramme.org or for general enquiries about the programme please call Carol Gillatt from the Community Development Team on 01227 264444. Alternatively to register your child call 0800 849 4000 where all your details will be taken by a member of the NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent Health Improvement Team who we assist in the promotion and delivery of the scheme.