New partnership launched in style with special festival in Lowestoft

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

And fitness was to the fore in Lowestoft last week as 180 children from across Waveney enjoyed an afternoon of sporting activities.

The inaugural health and fitness festival marked National Fitness Day last Wednesday, September 27 as the new North Suffolk Sport and Health Partnership was launched.

Having previously organised the North Suffolk School Games for schools across the area, Jeffrey Hoey has been setting up this new partnership over the past few months.

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

Mr Hoey, partnership development manager for the new North Suffolk Sport and Health Partnership, said it has 'a clear focus of improving the activity levels of children in our local schools aged between six to 11.'

With the partnership sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust until 2020, it means that health and well-being festivals and events will be held at the Waterlane Leisure Centre in the future.

With kurling, balancing exercises, stretching, games testing reactions, team building events and ball games among the activities at last week's festival at the sports centre in Lowestoft, there was something for all the youngsters to enjoy.

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

And highlighting how everyday tasks at home could be used, the integrated healthy lifestyle service One Life Suffolk showed how carrying shopping baskets, hanging out the washing and dusting were important activities.

With 22 schools from across Waveney signed up to the partnership, Mr Hoey said: 'No-one else in Suffolk is doing a sport and health partnership. The partnership's first and main aspiration will be to inspire and enthuse children to try and meet the health target of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day.'

The partnership has teamed up with Go Geronimo CIC, who provide coaches with health, sport and fitness expertise, and Lowestoft Sixth Form students, who will run activities at the festivals.

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

Mr Hoey added: 'The partnership will be a support system for primary schools to track their students activities levels across the school day and implement new and exciting sport and health clubs to improve children's health. We will be offering schools activities such as Balanceability, Wheelchair Basketball and using Fitbits to track students heart rates during the school day.'

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

School children celebrate the Sport and Health Partnership fitness day by taking part in sporting activities at Water Lane leisure centre sponsored by Sentinel Leisure Trust. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant (C) 2017)

A new partnership called North Suffolk Sport & Health Partnership has been launched. Picture: Courtesy of North Suffolk Sport & Health Partnership (Image: Archant)