Community Grant secures long term future of fitness initiative in Hemel Hempstead

The Tudors Supporters Club has been successful in an application for a Community Grant from Dacorum Borough Council, to support a local fitness initiative.

The council's Community Grant scheme is designed to support community activities and improve the wellbeing of Dacorum residents; so far the Tudors Supporters Club (TSC) has run six successful Over 30's football sessions aimed at encouraging similarly aged/fit local people to get active with each other.

Formed in 2013, the Tudors Supporters Club has until now focussed on organising travel to Hemel Hempstead Town FC games for fans and fundraising initiatives for the football club.

More recently, Over 30's football sessions were organised to encourage Hemel fans and local residents to get active after the period of lockdown during the pandemic.

The funding allows the TSC to commit to block book a long term facility and ensure there is sufficient kit and equipment as the popularity of the sessions grow; there is also now the potential to explore other opportunities to get people active such as women's only football sessions and/or activities other than football, if there is sufficient interest.

Hemel Hempstead Town FC has committed to making facilities available and so in partnership with both Dacorum Borough Council and Hemel FC, the TSC is excited to announce that the 'Fans Kickabout' trialled up until now will become 'Community Kickabout', continuing at the same 9pm slot on Monday evenings, on the newly laid FIFA Pro standard artificial grass at Vauxhall Road.

Anyone over 30 is welcome to participate, places can be booked and paid online via the TSC website.

The sessions are aimed at helping Over 30's get active, regular exercise has also been shown to improve your ability to regulate your immune system, which may be essential for avoiding the severe symptoms of COVID-19.

The pandemic and subsequent lockdown also hampered a lot of attempts to keep fit; the TSC's sessions are for people who either want to get fit or are returning to fitness.

Adults should be participating in 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity (raised heartbeat, sweating e.g. brisk walking), and there are a number of benefits:

> It has been scientifically proven that being physically active can dramatically improve an individual’s physical health

> It lowers the risk of heart disease, strokes, cancer and of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 50%

> It also improves mental health, helping to lower the risk of depression and reduces cognitive decline

> Taking part in sport and physical activity can also boost productivity

> Physical activity and sports participation can develop a sense of shared purpose and contribute to community cohesion

> Sport is successful in bringing people from different communities together and forging strong, new friendships and creating a sense of pride and belonging within their communities.