Lifeline Community Action, has been awarded nearly £10,000 by national charity, Heart Research UK and SUBWAY® stores to fund a year-long project promoting healthy heart initiatives.
Lifeline Community Action (LCA), based in Silverdale, Newton Aycliffe, is a charity that supports children, young people and families in real need of financial support, and the project, ‘Health Drop In’, which is launched last month, aims to promote practical and educational activities that will promote the healthy heart message within the local community.
The project aims to reach people living in Newton Aycliffe including families, adults and carers. Silverdale is situated in a deprived area of Newton Aycliffe where some residents struggle financially and experience a lack of support. The project intends to address their health and wellbeing through drop in sessions that will teach them how to live healthily on a budget.
Sessions will run on a weekly basis throughout the project, covering different aspects of healthy living including: nutrition, exercise and educating on the dangers of smoking.
Other classes include food and nutrition facts, practical cookery sessions, details about local walks and family activities, such as ball games and picnics, and educational information sessions about the impacts of smoking.
Alwyn White, a Trustee at Lifeline Community Action, said: “Lifeline Community Action are delighted to run Healthy Heart sessions. Not only will it educate us all on how to look after our hearts better, but we’re also looking forward to meeting new friends and having lots of fun during the course.”
Lifeline Community Action hope that the project will directly tackle some of the issues faced by the community through helping families to eat healthily and be more active, tackling obesity, lifting peoples’ mood and reducing depression. The aim is also to help build their confidence by giving them an opportunity to make new friends.
Barbara Harpham, National Director of Heart Research UK, said: “It’s great to see local charities taking a proactive approach to improving the lives of the local community. A healthy lifestyle should be accessible to everyone and it’s encouraging to see Lifeline Community Action making it possible through this project.”
Roger Cusa, Head of Marketing for the SUBWAY® brand in UK and Ireland, said:
“The SUBWAY® brand is delighted to be able to help fund this worthwhile initiative which will help people in County Durham lead healthier lifestyles. SUBWAY® stores nationwide have enjoyed fundraising and it’s great to see local community initiatives such as this come to fruition as a result of the money generously donated by our customers both in store and at fundraising events, like our popular family 5K series.”
You can also follow Heart Research UK on Twitter: @heartresearchuk or become a fan of our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heart-Research-UK/10733061906 For further information contact Lucy Alexander on 0113 297 6205
