 In a continued bid to increase physical activity levels, The Maidstone Leisure Trust who in partnership with Serco Leisure (who operate Maidstone Leisure Centre) and SHOKK have developed a bespoke training programme for young people in the Maidstone area. The pioneering programme has been devised to help more young people reach the Government’s recommended five hours of physical activity per week and offer innovative vocational routes into the health and fitness industry.
SERCO Leisure, who works on behalf of Maidstone Leisure Trust, is dedicated to improving the lives of young people by increasing activity provisions and assisting more achieve Government set targets. Following market research, The Maidstone Leisure Trust were keen to offer a range of training programmes that help engage more young people, by steering away from the traditional offerings. As market leaders in youth activity, SHOKK understand exactly what this demographic are looking for and provide physical activity that appeals to all young people regardless of ability or background. Utilising the plans devised by SHOKK, The Maidstone Leisure Trust successfully bid for £7500 of funding from the Kent Sports Development Units Sports Unlimited fund.
As Adam Loynds, Community Development Officer, explained, “We are committed to improving sporting opportunities and increase activity in the local community, to help engage more young people and reduce obesity levels. We have also begun to notice an increased number of young members using the local fitness facilities and further demand for more fitness classes that cater for them. With this in mind we contacted SHOKK to provide a training programme, which incorporated all these factors and targeted young people who were failing to reach the 5 hour per week Government recommended guidelines.”
 SHOKK devised a bespoke programme, to capture and engage all participants’ imaginations. The 10 week course is a multi-skilled development approach, which combines two of SHOKK’s specialised REP’s accredited training workshops, X-treme and Kombat (more to be added at a later date). On completion, the young people who demonstrate the most promise will be offered an exit route into the health and fitness industry – Level 1 Teaching Physical Activity to Children, with the aim to create future coaches and mentors. Governed by Ac tive IQ, the Level 1 course is specifically designed to provide pupils with underpinning knowledge and understanding of working with children. Once completed, they are able to assist with fitness classes in local leisure centres and mentor younger pupils. The programme starts this month and will be available for pupils aged 11 plus, free of charge.
Shawn Clarke, SHOKK’s Business Development Executive, concluded: “It is great to see Maidstone Leisure Trust and Serco’s dedication to helping young people achieve their activity targets, and not just the so called sporty types, but all young people in the community. The way in which the programme is structured, will assist the local council and School Sports Partnership gain valuable and precise data to assess activity levels and help young people focus on becoming an athlete prior to a sports person”
For further information or to book your free space on the scheme please contact Maidstone Leisure Centre on 08451 552277 or email Adam Loynds at adam.loynds@leisure.serco.com
X-Treme (pdf)
Kombat (pdf)
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