Basketballers and slimmers net council health grants (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Basketballers and slimmers net council health grants

1:00pm Sunday 3rd February 2013 in News By Matthew Colledge

A BASKETBALL team, a martial arts club, and a group of slimmers are among those to benefit from £14,000 of council handouts.

Sedgemoor District Council has given nine organisations Community Health Fund Grants, from a one-off cashpot for projects which promote healthy living.

They include Bridgwater Bucs Basketball Club, which received £2000 towards school holiday clubs and a 12-week disabled basketball course; Bridgwater Martial Arts Academy, which got £1,000 towards a 24-week martial arts class to help men and women lose weight; and £2,000 for New Leaf Design, a ten-week weight-loss programme for villagers in Spaxton, Broomfield, Enmore and Goathurst.

Sarah Williams, from Bridgwater Bucs, said the club was delighted with the grant, which “has enabled us to improve our facilities and invest in a training and development programme.

“Our aim is to make basketball accessible to all.”

Matthew Boxall of Bridgwater Martial Arts Academy, said: “The BMA and the volunteers involved are very excited to be working with Sedgemoor to provide martial arts fitness classes and self-defence classes.

“All of the classes are taught within the fully equipped, safe and friendly BMA training hall at Victoria Park Community Centre.

“The classes will be a mixture of activities that work towards you reaching your goals for weight-loss, while building your confidence.”

Becky Wright of New Leaf Life Design, said: “Our course will be open to people living in Sedgemoor who have a Body Mass Index of over 25, but especially targeting those who have a BMI of 30 or over.

“We want to encourage community engagement through peer support so members can exercise together and support each other's weight loss.”

Other organisations benefiting included Link Education Centre, SASP, Amateur Swimming Association South-West, Clocktower Wellness Centre in East Brent, Shipham First School, and the People's Plot from Burnham and Highbridge.