Sport and Exercise
Torfaen County Borough Council:
01495 762200 or
www.torfaen.gov.uk|
Garnsychan Partnership
Office: tel 01495 774453
I would like to do more exercise. Can you give me some helpful information to help me to get fit?
There are already a large number of leisure facilities available in Torfaen, with skateparks, multiuse games areas, pitches, cycle tracks etc. We are always looking to help develop facilities for the people in Torfaen as the redevelopment of Pontypool Leisure Centre shows. I am sure that if you do a little bit of research, you will find a leisure facility on your doorstep. Exercise should be used in helping to reduce obesity, the recommended amount for children is 1 hour 5 times a week of moderate intensity exercise. This means that your heart rate needs to increase so that you almost feel out of breath. This can be achieved through a number of ways, including walking or cycling briskly to school and not just running around a pitch 100 times, although playing sport does have an already recognisable benefit in helping to decrease obesity. This is only one element though, as diet also plays a major part in decreasing obesity and when combined together can make you feel and look fit and healthy.
As a Council we are currently putting the finishing touches to a Physical Activity Strategy that will help to show the benefits of exercise and diet in weight management as well as the improvement in the quality of life it has for all people. This document will be available in the future as we believe that by educating people in the advantages of sport and exercise Torfaen as a whole will reap the rewards.
I would like to take up some kind of sporting activity in Garndiffaith can you help?
There are already a number of sporting opportunities available in Garndiffaith and the rugby club is one that is always looking to expand its junior section. Also, there are a number of people in the Community who are looking to help young people and for more information it may be worth contacting the Garnsychan Partnership Office at Stanley Road, Garndiffaith. This partnership has a recognised sports focus group which has helped in raising money through funding bids to improve many facilities, one of which is the multi use games area.
I think there should be more free sports activities in Torfaen and more variety such as Skateboarding. Can this be arranged?
The Council does put a number of free sports activities on in Torfaen and is always looking for ways that these can be increased to help this age group become more active. As part of a Welsh Assembly Government backed scheme, under 16s are able to access the swimming pools in the Leisure Centres free of charge when they show their library card. This scheme also entitles you to access many other sports during school holidays including, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, walking and football coaching. Information on this can be found at the Leisure Centres nearer the holiday time, as well as this avenue, the schools also receive the information and should be asked for details. There are also play schemes for the 8 - 12 year olds at venues throughout the Borough during the summer holidays.
As said previously there are also a number of facilities that are free of charge throughout Torfaen, including multi use games areas that can be used for all different types of sport, as well as skateparks at Garndiffaith Welfare, Cold Barn Farm in Trevethin, Pontypool Park and the boating lake in Cwmbran. These are also combined with pitches throughout the Borough that can be used free of charge for most sports. As you can see there are numerous free leisure facilities and opportunities available for under 16s in Torfaen and with a little bit of research, I am sure you will be able to find something close to you.
Disclaimer: If you have any medical problems or are pregnant, you should consult your doctor before starting any exercise