About Fit For Football

Fit For For Football was established in 2003, specifically at that time to address healthy lifestyle issues for children in disadvantaged communities in the Humber area, through the provision of fun,interactive games.

In developing Fit For Football ,its members have sought to ensure that :-

the messages being promoted are accurate and relevant based on the best available knowledge at the time
that the quality of its resources and training are consistent and high, appropriate to the age or ability of the target group
that persons delivering the activities have sufficient knowledge of the subject matter in question
that in any collaboration with any business or organisation, ethical considerations will be of paramount importance, particularly in relation to businesses or organisations that are not seen as promoting healthier lifestyles ( for example, companies that market high fat, high sugar foods , that promote smoking,drugs or alcohol to children or promote sedentary lifestyles). Fit For Football will not accept sponsorship from such companies or promote its messages alongside any campaign or promotion they might engage in

In 2003 , when we started the project ,a lifestyle survey of 10/11 year olds living in deprived wards in the area confirmed that smoking among both children and their parents was well above national averages, that many children, (particularly girls) took low levels of exercise and that childrens diets ( particularly boys) were high in fats and sugars, with significant numbers eating no fruit and/or vegetables.

The project set out to:-

i) Encourage and increase the numbers of young people who take regular physical activity and participate in sport within the community.

ii) To reduce the uptake of smoking through the delivery of a credible smoke-free message by sports leaders, coaches, staff and volunteer helpers.

iii) To enhance knowledge, skills and attitudes with regard to food and health, and thus encourage the adoption of healthier eating.

The emphasis of the project is on fun, where children play interactive games that each provide different lifestyle messages The project has worked in partnership with 3 Football in the Community schemes – Hull City, Scunthorpe United and Grimsby Town.

We know that football has great appeal to both boys and girls (40% of participants are girls) Additionally, Football in the Community staff are seen by children as credible role models of healthy living so they are in a unique position to promote positive health messages.

We have also been supported by the Community Nutrition And Dietetic Services of North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust and Primary Care Trusts in the East Riding and Hull who have provided specialist advice on the healthier eating elements and provided Community Food Workers for activity sessions.

The project has had specialist support from Humber Alliance on Tobacco and from North Lincolnshire Physical Activity Advisors. For further information on how activities have been evaluated, see the Evaluation section.