To kick start a fitter, healthier and happier 2011, children from Beaconsfield can sign up for a FREE, fun healthy lifestyle club that starts in February.

Families who attend MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it!) will learn how to eat more healthily, understand food labels and make their weekly shop healthier and easier.

The children also take part in fun physical activity sessions. MEND’s 10-week healthy living course will take place at The Beaconsfield School, and is due to start on the evening of Tuesday, February 1.

South Bucks District Council will be running the course in partnership with Buckinghamshire NHS and Nexus.

South Bucks District Councillor Shorne Tilbey, Portfolio Holder for Community, says, ‘MEND makes a real difference to children’s lives. Through encouraging them to be more active and choose healthier options – kids lose weight and their confidence increases. I encourage any parent who is concerned about their child’s weight and would like them to have a healthier start to 2011 to take part in this free course.”

MEND has helped over 20,000 families become fitter, healthier and happier and is aimed at children aged seven to 13 who are above a healthy weight.

It consists of two hourly after-school sessions twice a week for ten weeks. Each session includes one hour of an interactive workshop for children and parents, and one hour of fun physical activity for the kids while the parents have a discussion around health.

The course is open to all children who live in the district of South Bucks regardless of what school they attend.

So if you think your child is above a healthy weight and you would like to register for a FREE place on MEND’s fun healthy lifestyle course, call Joe Sammon on 01895 837348 or visit www.mendcentral.org.