FIT BORO

MFC Foundation are helping fans to tackle their weight, get healthier and be happier by joining FIT FANS, a free 12 week programme at the Riverside Stadium.

Launched in January 2020 at 30 Clubs in England, the EFL Trust’s FIT FANS programme is supported by over £2.25 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England and aims to use the magnetism of football to tackle obesity levels in over 10,000 fans across the UK.

36.4 million people (61.4% of England’s population) live within 10 miles of an EFL ground, with four in 10 residents within this catchment area falling into the most-deprived population groups.

Sport England has identified lower physical activity participation rates among people living on low incomes and that is why they have joined forces with the EFL Trust network to help people create a long-term healthy and active lifestyle.  FIT FANS is one of a number of initiatives to tackle lower physical activity participation rates among people living on low incomes, which is one of Sport England’s key priorities.

FIT FANS is the operating name in England and Wales for Football Fans in Training, which was created in a Scotland by the University of Glasgow and the Scottish Professional Football League Trust.

The programme shows individuals how to:

  • Improve their eating habits by reducing portion sizes and swapping fatty and sugary foods for fruit, vegetables and high fibre foods
  • Achieve at least 45 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days of the week. They receive weekly exercise sessions at their club for 12 weeks, and follow a personal pedometer based walking programme that encourages them to fit physical activity into their daily lives
  • Use tried-and-tested behaviour change techniques to become more active and improve their diet. These include regular self-monitoring of their weight and pedometer step counts and setting SMART goals to make changes that can be sustained long term.

The 12 week programme gives fans unprecedented access to their club and a look behind the scenes.

For more information on the FIT BORO programme please contact paul.south@mfcfoundation.co.uk

 

Programme Donation To Benefit Foundation Participants Of All Ages

When we were contacted by Matt Storey about a donation of old match programmes, we were grateful for the thought and delighted that we could enhance the work we do across different ages.

Matt, Police and Crime Commissioner in the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, works closely with different groups in the Foundation and was aware of the range of sessions for different ages.

He explained why he thought of us when he was given some old match programmes.

“A friend of my dad’s was cleaning out his garage and his stepson had a collection of old Boro programmes which he wanted to find a new home for. I thought the Foundation might be interested in that little ‘find’.

“There are some really good ones in there, like the Leicester City Coca Cola Cup tie from 1997 and stacks of them from the Bryan Robson Premier League Days.

“Perhaps of more interest to a different generation are two leather collector’s boxes of programmes from 1971-1973 which are in really good condition and very smartly presented.”

Receiving the programmes on behalf of the Foundation, deputy Foundation manager Craig McManus said: “We’re really grateful for these and delighted that Matt thought of us.

“These will be useful in schools where some children who sometimes don’t always take to reading that much suddenly show a greater interest when football programmes are put in front of them. They’re encouraged to read in a different way.

“And of course we will be taking them on our visits to care homes and other sessions where participants will have memories evoked.”

Matt concluded: “I hope this might be a bit of fun and everyone likes some nostalgia!”