MEND

What is MEND?

MEND is a FREE fun and friendly programme specially designed to help families get fitter, healthier and happier!

MEND stands for:

• Mind - understanding and changing unhealthy attitudes and behaviours around food.
• Exercise - adequate, safe - and above all fun - exercise.
• Nutrition - enjoyable, practical activities teaching healthy eating and food choices to improve the whole family's diet.
• Do it - get involved!

Download the MEND brochure (PDF, 1066 Kb) for a glimpse of its benefits, supporters and participants.

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Who is it for?

MEND is an effective 10-week programme that uses techniques developed by health experts to help 7 to 13-year-old children who are above their ideal weight, and their parents, learn about food and discover fun ways to get fit.

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Is this programme right for my child and me?

• If your child is aged 7 to 13 years
• If you and your child can attend two sessions a week for 10 weeks
• If you would like to learn more about eating healthily, being more active and meet other families... Then this programme could be for you!

Download the Bristol MEND leaflet (PDF, 371 Kb) for more information.

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How do I know if my child qualifies?

We will check whether your child qualifies based on their age, weight and health. You can also see where your child fits by following this link: your weight and BMI - you will need to input your child’s height, weight, age and gender. You can also speak to your GP or school nurse.

If your child fits within the obese category we would recommend that you see your GP or school nurse about being referred to the Bristol Obesity Clinic (COCO).

The COCO clinic at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children is designed for children with more significant weight problems that may cause other problems such as diabetes or liver disease which occur more frequently as weight increases. If you are worried about your child's weight and these issues, your GP can refer you directly to the COCO clinic if you ask him/her.

*Times Online have released an article about How fat is your child? (PDF, 42 Kb) discussing the issues around children's weight in society today.

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How much does it cost?

The programme is FREE. Big Lottery funding and partnership working between Bristol City Council, Bristol Primary Care Trust and Sports and Leisure Management Charitable Trust enables us to provide places (at a cost of £400 a child) absolutely free.

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Where does MEND run?

We are running MEND programmes in Bristol over the next few years at various locations across Bristol.

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What do you learn on the MEND programme?

• How much fat is healthy to eat?
• How to read food labels and what do they mean?
• Is too much sugar bad for us?
• Why are children (and adults) struggling to be a healthy weight?
• How can we eat healthily and still have treats?
• and more…

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What do you do on the MEND programme?

Each session lasts two hours, there is a one hour physical activity session either in the sports hall or pool where children have lots of fun, playing games, relays, etc. Adults have their own discussion session during this time to share advice that works and look at the improving self-confidence and MIND side of the programme. The other hour is a healthy eating workshop for both adults and children. We also have a supermarket tour, a fabulous food fest and quiz.

To find out more about our programme download: programme overview (PDF, 495 Kb).

The MEND programme is run and supervised by qualified MEND leaders who are CRB checked. MEND is both evidence-based and outcome-driven, and has been researched in the form of a Randomized Control Trial at the Institute of Child Health in London.

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When are the next MEND programmes?

Posters and flyers for each programme can be obtained by calling 0117 922 3656 or email sport@bristol.gov.uk or you can download a MEND flyer (PDF, 331 Kb).

Central and East

• Running on Mondays 6pm-8pm and Thursdays 5.30pm-7.30pm
• Venue: Easton Leisure Centre
• Starts: Monday, 12 January 2009
• Finishes: Thursday, 26 March 2009

Limited places available - contact us today!

North

• Running on Mondays and Thursdays 5.30pm-7.30pm
• Venue: Greenway Centre
• Starts: Monday, 12 January 2009
• Finishes: Thursday, 26 March 2009

Limited places available - contact us today!

South

• Running on Mondays and Wednesdays 5.30pm-7.30pm
• Venue: Knowle West Health Park
• Starts: Monday, 12 January 2009
• Finishes: Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Limited places available - contact us today!

Future programmes

• April/May 2009 - North and South Bristol
• September 2009 - North and South Bristol
• January 2010 - South Bristol.

Call 0117 922 3656 now to be put on a waiting list for future programmes.

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How do I register for MEND?

Call the MEND team on 0117 922 3656 to see whether your child qualifies and to get more details on how to register.

When you call us you will be:

• Given information about the MEND programme
• Asked information about your child to check they meet the criteria
• Asked to complete a phone registration form to obtain personal details.

This will take approximately five minutes to complete or if you would like a call-back about the programme please complete the form below and we will call you back bewteen Monday and Friday 9am to 5pm.

Please complete all items marked *

Child's name	*
Child's age	*
Address	*
Postcode	*
Adult's name	*
Adult's relationship to child	*
Contact phone number between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday	*
Best time to ring you on this number
Alternative contact phone number between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday
Best time to ring you on this number
Email address, if you would like an email confirming this form
Child's approximate height
Child's approximate weight

Alternatively you can print off the sign up by post form (PDF, 27 Kb). Complete the form and post to:

MEND Programme
Sport Services
Bristol City Council
33 Colston
Colston Avenue
Bristol BS1 4UA

To complete the form electronically, please download the sign up by email form (Word Version - doc, 410 Kb). Don't forget to include "MEND" as the subject. Complete the form and email to sport@bristol.gov.uk

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How can I get involved in helping at MEND programmes?

If you are interested in volunteering as a programme assistant, can commit to a whole 10-week programme and have a background in fitness and/or nutrition we would be very pleased to hear from you. Please email your CV to sport@bristol.gov.uk.

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Where else does MEND run?

There are MEND programmes running at various places across the country, locally and in:

• Bath and North East Somerset
• South Gloucestershire
• North Somerset

Visit www.mendprogramme.org or telephone MEND central on 020 7231 7225 for further details.

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Latest news

Award for Bristol MEND project - January 2008

People involved in Bristol’s successful MEND project promoting active lifestyles and healthy eating amongst young people celebrated their award for “best practice” with a special party in January 2008.

Families involved in MEND and families looking to find out more about the MEND programme enjoyed a series of fun activities, such as cheerleading and circus skills.

The MEND award recognises Bristol’s practical and fun approach to supporting young people and their families through the 10-week MEND Programme (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition and Do it!). Bristol is one of 230 locations now operating across the UK and winning this award shows national recognition of Bristol’s success. Lottery funding has ensured that Bristol can run three MEND programmes covering the whole of the city. In January, 80 young people had benefited from Bristol’s programmes.

MEND offers young people aged seven to 13 the opportunity to get involved with sport and physical activities and gives their families advice and information about healthy eating and improving confidence and self-esteem.

MEND aims to provide families with the life skills to help children lead healthy, active lifestyles, preventing weight gain in a society overloaded by fast foods and technology, which encourages a sedentary lifestyle.

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Partners

We are very grateful to the following organisations for their support:

Strategic partners

• BIG Lottery Fund
• Bristol Primary Care Trust
• MEND
• Sports and Leisure Management Limited

Delivery partners

• Ashton Park Sports Centre
• Knowle West Health Park
• Wicklea Youth Centre
• The Greenway Centre
• Bridge Learning Campus
• Brooklea Health Centre
• Sports and Leisure Management Limited

Other partners

• Bristol Healthy Schools
• Extended Schools
• Ashton Park School Sports Partnership
• City Academy School Sports Partnership
• Portway School Sports Partnership

We look forward to continuing these partnerships and starting work with more like-minded organisations in the future.

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Testimonials and gallery

We believe that feedback from MEND kids and parents really matters.

Below is a summary of testimonials so-far:

"We have both enjoyed our time at MEND, we have met new friends and gained new knowledge. We now work together as a team for a healthier life. Thanks MEND."

"The programme was well worth the time and effort and has opened my eyes to healthier easting and lifestyle."

"The MEND has put Shawna and myself on the right road to a healthy fit future. After three years of battling with Shawna’s fitness and confidence we both now feel positive, as we know now what we need to do and eat. I now feel Shawna has a positive outlook on her future and I am enjoying watching her confidence in herself grow."

"Really useful programme that enables parents to meet others with similar problems, good to have the time to swap ideas with others on how to deal with problems. Good for children to hear from someone about healthy eating and increasing activity, the children are more likely to listen! Fantastic improvement with my daughters self esteem, which was only evident when she completed the questionnaire at the end!"

For more information, download testimonials (PDF, 71 Kb).

Gallery

A collection of photographs from the MEND programmes across Bristol.

Central and East Bristol programme

• January 2007 - St. Paul's Community Sports Academy (PDF, 939 Kb)
• May 2007 - Easton Leisure Centre (PDF, 324 Kb)
• September 2007 - Easton Leisure Centre (PDF, 356 Kb)

South Bristol Programme

• September 2007 - Ashton Park Sports Centre (PDF, 690 Kb)

North Bristol Programme

• May 2007 - Henbury Leisure Centre (PDF, 1650 Kb)
• September 2007 - Horfield Leisure Centre (PDF, 1102 Kb)
• February 2008 - Horfield Leisure Centre (PDF, 616 Kb)

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