Youth Fitness Academy

Southampton City Council Youth Fitness Initiative

The Youth Fitness Academy has attracted hundreds of young people across Southampton, with the aim of engaging and increasing their physical activity. The long term programme aims to improve the health and well-being of young people across the city.

About the initiative

February 2007 saw Southampton City Council launch an exciting initiative targeted at 11-15 year olds across its Leisure venues.

The initiative branded as ‘Youth Fitness Academy’ has attracted hundreds of young people across the City thus increasing physical activity and is something which continues to gain momentum in the target market.

Prior to the launch youngsters took part in consultation to ensure that their needs/ wants were identified in shaping the initiative. Such input saw the creation of Youth Fitness Academy. Additionally to ensure best practice, staff gained nationally accredited fitness qualifications (specifically designed for 11-15 age group).

Youth Fitness Academy aims;

1. Engage and increase activity participation of target market.
2. Break down barriers that prevent young people participating in exercise.
3. Introduce a sustainable initiative within a long term programme of activities.
4. Deliver measurable and positive outcomes from increased participation.

11-15 year olds completed pre questionnaire. Subsequent follow up surveys were conducted to measure key achievements. In brief these include;

- 80% stated that they now eat more healthily since joining YFA.
- 75% have increased confidence and self esteem.
- 56% have started other forms of exercise since joining YFA showing the positive effects.
- 48% of children have watched less TV and played less computer games since joining YFA.

Further statistics show that Junior Fitness suite participation has seen an increase of 160% compared to 2006.

Overall the initiative see’s the engagement of young people of Southampton and improve their health and well being.

What we could do with a bronze award worth £1,000

The key and primary aim of the funding is to increase opportunities for all young people in Southampton to develop an active and enjoyable healthy lifestyle, and sustaining this outlook into adulthood.

Funding for the initiative would assist break down and remove cost barriers to participation for young people.

Children obesity in Southampton and the UK is a well documented subject and initiatives like the Youth Fitness Academy and the Norwich Union funding opportunities available to assist these projects will have a positive impact to young people in Southampton, and their lifestyle changes.

Together we will make the difference.

What we could do with a silver award worth £12,500 or even the gold award worth £50,000

Achievement of a Silver/Gold award and further funding to the initiative would result in a bigger and more positive impact to the young people in Southampton.

The project with a Silver/Gold award would enable the initiative to attract an increased number of young people across Southampton to the project and offer the discounted exercise opportunities for a much longer period of time.

Achieving this level of award would make a huge difference to thousands of young people’s lives in the City and put them on the right path for a healthy lifestyle, which will lead to increased confidence and reduced obesity levels.

Our final word

To summarise: The initiative is an established project that has demonstrated clear health benefits to young people in Southampton as well as increasing confidence, self esteem and enjoyment. It is now time to increase and engage a wider audience and raise the awareness of the Youth Fitness Academy.