Partnership gets kids moving

Leisure Networks is having fun bringing its very own Mini Movers program to children in Portarlington and St Leonards, thanks to a great partnership with Bellarine Community Health (BCH).

“Bellarine Community Health’s, Healthy and Connected Communities Team (HCCT) are thrilled to be partnering with Leisure Networks to bring the Mini Movers program to children on the Bellarine Peninsula,” said Chloe McKenzie, Healthy Communities Planner at BCH.

The physical wellbeing program, delivered by Leisure Networks, is designed for pre-school and early primary school aged children to improve motor skills as well as build on their social and emotional capabilities.

“Sport is a fun learning space for children,” explains Tori Honner, Program Coordinator at Leisure Networks, “As well as getting active, the children benefit from other strategies such as perseverance, sociability and self-esteem. These are really important skills that we know will support children as they move through primary school.

“We want children to get early exposure to lots of different types of sport, to help them find something they love that they can pursue as they get older. Leisure Networks is all about building active and connected communities, and sport is at the heart of that.”

It comes as no great surprise, that recent Mini Movers sessions have focussed on acquiring soccer skills, as our whole nation gets swept up in the Matilda’s success. Children at St Leonards and Portarlington Primary Schools, as well as Portarlington Preschool have embraced the opportunity provided through Live Well Bellarine, the community health promotion plan delivered by the Healthy and Connected Communities Teams (HCCT) at BCH.

“BCH is always looking for ways we can help to get more children and families on the Bellarine active,” said Chloe.

Leisure Networks is a not-for-profit organisation based in Geelong, having provided services for people with a disability for more than 30 years. The organisation provides opportunities for people to connect with their community in a variety of ways including participation in sport and recreation, skill-building, and array of social and leisure activities.

Through their Sport, Recreation and Health team, Leisure Networks helps people build their capacity and creates safe, inclusive spaces for people to be active, healthy and to have fun within their community.

You can learn mor about Leisure Networks HERE.

Live Well Bellarine is the Healthy and Connected Communities Teams (HCCT), community health promotion plan and works on the priority areas of promoting active living, healthy eating and tobacco free living. Their work targets children and young people living in the Bellarine Peninsula.

You can learn more about Live Well Bellarine HERE.

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