South Herefordshire 'S.H.A.P.E.S.' up

South Herefordshire Activity Promotion and Education Scheme (S.H.A.P.E.S.) aims to encourage the residents of South Herefordshire to get fit and active by providing a wide range of activities and a programme of education to raise awareness of the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle.

The project has been running since January this year and already offers a wide range of activities to communities, including such activities as Tai Chi, boxing circuits and postnatal classes.

S.H.A.P.E.S. works closely with local communities and partners such as Age Concern, the LIFT exercise referral scheme, local Community Hospitals, South Wye fitness project and local schools.

The majority of the classes and training the project provides are held in community buildings with many associations giving reduced rates or free hire.

The project offers three-tier training from basic entry-level qualifications on fitness right up to fully qualified instructor qualifications.

All training provided by S.H.A.P.E.S. offer recognised qualifications such as Open College Network courses, City and Guilds and qualifications recognised by the Register of Exercise Professionals.

Shirley Goodwin-Jones, S.H.A.P.E.S. Development Officer, said: “The training we offer is aimed at those members of the community who attend our exercise classes.

“One aim of offering the training is to build up a team of trained volunteer fitness instructors who’ll then use their new skills to support and deliver the project throughout the South of the County.

“This is a real community project and relies a great deal on the good will of individuals and organisations. The launch event is a way of thanking all those groups who’ve made all our achievements possible,” she added.

The launch will be opened by Paul Bates, Chief Executive of the Primary Care Trust.

Pupils from the SCORE Project will be giving a demonstration of the skills they’ve learnt and Anne-Marie Scott, cardiac rehabilitation specialist nurse, will be giving a talk about the partnership with S.H.A.P.E.S. project and Cardiac Rehabilitation in Ross due to the big lottery funding.

S.H.A.P.E.S. is funded by Herefordshire Council, Sport England, Big Lottery and South Wye Healthy living Community.