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Erewash Borough Council Sport and Health Dvelopment Team achieve top 20 per cent Quest score in county

29 September 2008

The five-strong team were assessed for the prestigious Quest Award last month and achieved an ‘Excellent’ rating with an outstanding 87% – one of only 2 organisations in the country to ever achieve such a high score at their first attempt.

The Quest assessor said theteam has a clear focus and achieving a high quality service. Also that team members are committed, enthusiastic and highly motivated and they were particularlypraised for their inquisitive and analytical approach to new ideas such as the pioneering PACE (Physically Active Children in Erewash) Project.

The PACE project, part funded by Pfizer, is an innovative partnership scheme which encourages children and their families to understand the importance of a lifelong commitment to eating healthily and taking exercise, reducing TV viewing and computer games time and increasing self esteem.

As part of PACE, thriving after school health clubs have been set up in the community for pupils and their families, with the first half of each session concentrating on physical activity through low intensity games and basic sport skills.

Then the children, along with brothers, sisters and parents, all take part in a 45 -minute healthy eating interactive session – which includes recipes to make banana bread mix, to take home and cook in the oven, or a fun blind man’s bluff-style game which introduces the children to unusual fruits and vegetables that they may not have tried before.

Following the first six weeks, 94 per cent of parents said their child’s eating habits had improved; 81 per cent said self esteem had grown and that their child’s feelings had changed towards physical activity.

The project has been widely acclaimed and has been submitted as a Parliamentary best practice briefing for Physically Active Children Everywhere.

Another excellent partnership project where the team demonstrated their commitment and enthusiasm was the Erewash Novice Triathlon and Fun Run. Specifically aimed at families and novices, the initial event in 2007 drew 180 participants, the Triathlon has grown to become a significant local and visitor attraction with event participation reaching 450 in 2008.

A typical entrant was local mum Anji Dyke who said “I have gone from being an unfit non exercising mum to a reasonably fit 1 and half stone lighter fighter”.

Anji followed the suggested training schedule on the Erewash Borough Council website and says “I have done as you advised and tried hard to practice the transition from bike to run and have loved every bit of the training. The information has been really helpful and supportive; I have learned such a lot more than I expected getting myself hooked up in this Triathlon – thank you.”

Team members Roland Harrison, Sport and Health Development Manager, Danniella Roworth, Physical Activities Co-ordinator, Eleanor Manning, PACE Co-ordinator, Jane Lewis, Swimming Development Co-ordinator, and John Bennett, Community Sport Coach for Cotmanhay, were presented with their award on Thursday 25th September and have been celebrating their good news.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “It is fantastic news that our team is ranked as one of the top 18% in the country following their first assessment. It is a reflection on the enthusiasm, commitment and professionalism of the staff that they have achieved such a wonderful rating. Just as importantly, it also assures our customers that we are providing services and facilities that are nationally accredited – and at a very high level.

“Quest is all about quality and striving to be the best and this latest success demonstrates that in Erewash we are always working towards further improving the service we offer in sport and health development, at our leisure centres and all our services across-the-board.”