A day of healthy lifestyles activity for local school children takes place at the University of Birmingham today. More than 150 local kids aged 10 to 12 hit the Edgbaston campus for a range of sports and arts activities as part of the 'Fit 4 Fun' Action Day, run by staff and student volunteers.
A day of healthy lifestyles activity for local school children takes place at the University of Birmingham today. More than 150 local kids aged 10 to 12 hit the Edgbaston campus for a range of sports and arts activities as part of the 'Fit 4 Fun' Action Day, run by staff and student volunteers.
The aim is to tackle the growing problem of obesity in children by providing fun and thought-provoking activities which encourage the kids to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Team sports activities will be enjoyed at the Munrow Sports Centre, with football, relays and sports day events taking place on the athletics track. A nutrition challenge will see if the children know their proteins from their carbohydrates.
Birmingham students lead workshops on body image and stereotypes, whilst at the media workshops, the children get the chance to experience what it feels like to be both in front of and behind the camera at the University's TV studios, as well as producing the words and pictures to create their own newspaper.
Professor Michael Clarke, Vice Principal of the University of Birmingham says: "We are delighted to throw open the doors to our campus for the day. These local youngsters are the students of the future so we are thrilled to start getting to know them in a fun yet educational way. This is a post-SATs treat for the children and a reward for all their hard work throughout the school year".
The day, which is promoted by 'Birmingham Cares' - the employee volunteering initiative of Business in the Community - is designed to get across the message to children, in an innovative way, that healthy eating and regular exercise can be fun.
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Notes to Editors:
Children aged 10 to 12 from Watermill Primary School in Selly Oak, Health Mount Primary School in Balsall Heath, Nonsuch Primary School in Woodgate Valley and Percy Shurmer Primary School in Balsall Heath are taking part in the activities.
The University of Birmingham:
The University of Birmingham is one of the top research-intensive universities in the UK, with around 32, 000 students, 6,000 members of staff, and an annual turnover of c.£320 million, making it one of the biggest employers in Birmingham and a considerable business in its own right.
Known as the UK's first 'redbrick' university, the University of Birmingham encompasses not only the lakeside setting and green landscape of its Edgbaston campus, but also has bases across Birmingham as well as the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford upon Avon, the Ironbridge Institute at the Ironbridge Gorge and at its outward bound Priestley Centre on the edge of Lake Coniston in the Lake District.
Birmingham Cares - Birmingham Cares is an initiative of Business in the Community and Birmingham Voluntary Service Council and has to date provided in excess of 4,500 volunteering opportunities and involved more than 3,500 company volunteers in community projects. Business in the Community is a unique movement of companies committed to continually improving their positive impact on society, with a core membership of 700 companies including 80% of the FTSE 100.
Further information:
Rachel Robson - Head of News Team, University of Birmingham
tel: 0121 414 6681 / mob: 07789 921165 / email:mailto:r.a.robson@bham.ac.uk
