Premier League Health - a £1.63 million national programme, funded by The New Football Pools to help improve the state of men’s health - will offer free activities for men over the age of 18 at the Sporting Edge Sports Centre in Openshaw.
Starting the week beginning July 6th, CITC will run sessions on Monday and Wednesday between 4pm and 6pm involving a range of activities including football, badminton, boxing and basketball.
MCFC’s health trainer will also be on hand at the sessions to provide some simple tips and advice on eating healthier and being more physically active.
CITC Executive Manager Alex Williams said: “This will build on CITC’s existing health projects such as Getting Manchester Moving, and with our partners NHS Manchester and Manchester City Council help us provide free activities for a group of people who are often neglected when it comes to health issues.
“We are very grateful to The New Football Pools and the Premier League for their support – this project has the potential to make a real difference to the health of men in East Manchester.”
As well as taking part in free sports, participants will also be able to access free training provision through CITC’s partners and also have the chance to attend MCFC home games at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Delana Lawson, health trainer programme manager at Manchester Public Health Development Service, said: “Working in partnership with CITC has resulted in us being able to reach many more people who previously would not have used our service.”
Ian Penrose, chief executive of Sportech, who own The New Football Pools, said: “We are fortunate to be in the position of supporting our nation’s biggest sport through our products. With the re-launch of the pools in 2008-09 came a renewed commitment to fans and their communities and we are delighted to be contributing further.”
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: “Only a few years ago football clubs were viewed solely as teams that competed on the pitch every weekend. A modern-day Premier League club does far more than that.
“They now employ hundreds of staff dedicated solely to running an array of community-focused projects that are having an enormous impact. I am sure Premier League Health will go on to do the same.”
For more information about the Premier League Health project contact Steven Turner at City in the Community on 0161 438 7711 or e-mail steven.turner@mcfc.co.uk.
