Big Way Of Life

It is important that we get some qualitative data from the projects on just how Way of Life is making a difference; otherwise most of what is being done is pretty meaningless. Evidence is what Way of Life is all about, evidence that families are being educated on healthy living and subsequently changing their lives for the better. We have spoken to a couple of families at the F3 project in Caerphilly and this is what they said...

MSC story 1

Abigail Richards-Cooper is nine years old and she was just one of the children who attended, along with her family, the ten F3 sessions in a bid to improve the quality of her healthy living.

By the admission of her father Michael, Abigail was overweight, and so the family decided something needed to be done in order to get her weight down. They went to see the family doctor to discuss what options Abigail had and it was the doctor who put them in contact with the F3 project.

"It was the doctor's opinion that Abigail's weight was down to portion sizes being too big and not getting enough exercise and so he put us onto the project", said Michael, Abigail's father. We thought it sounded like a pretty good idea so we went with it."

There were ten F3 sessions all of which were designed educated children and their families about healthy living but also about having fun and meeting like-minded people all striving towards a common goal.

Michael explained how the sessions were organised. "The first half an hour or so would be spent outside doing games and exercise which was really good to get everyone involved, which was really good fun. Then we would go inside and we would learn more about healthy eating and exercise, which was also goof fun but it really opened our eyes too, we learnt quite a lot from it."

So what was it that they learnt? Well Michael believes the whole family has learnt a lot from the sessions and they have made a big impact on their lives, particularly Abigail's.

"Abigail has got so much out of the sessions, we all have. The two of us now go walking for an hour every night but before this she did not want to walk anywhere at all. The project took her out on a walk and I think that gave her inspiration.

"We have also changed our eating habits quite a bit. Abigail has learnt all about checking food labels to see what is in foods and she has learnt what is good and bad for you. We made charts showing what the good and bad foods are which was a good way for everyone to see what they should be eating.

"We also learnt some little tips for keeping fit, such as if you park in a car park, park further away from where you're going so you have to walk a bit further. We learnt that sometimes you only have to make small changes to make a big difference."

One of the major plus points of the project is the way they involve the whole family rather than just the children. Michael was impressed with this approach and admitted he didn't mind making a fool of himself at times.

"We were all jumping around and messing about and it was great fun. Some of the families were a bit reluctant but we all got stuck in. It's good that everyone is involved. You need to teach the parents as well as the children as it is them who cooks the meals and packs the lunchboxes. I have a reasonable idea of what is good and bad for you but some people don't and so it's good that there are projects like this to teach them."

So, Michael and his family got involved in the project to help Abigail but they all learned things from it, and when asked if they would take part again, Michael's answer was simple – "definitely".

MSC story 2

The second of our Most Significant Change Stories focuses on eleven-year-old Cerys Watkins who visited the doctors because she had not been very well. It was while she was in the doctors that she saw an advert for the project and decided she wanted to give it a try.

Like Abigail in the above story, Cerys took part in sports and activities and then learnt a host of new things about healthy living.

Cerys's mum Dawn said that it has had a really big effect on her daughter. She said: "She's like a completely different person now. She has changed all of her eating habits and I have even stopped buying certain foods because she just won't eat them."

The whole family took part in the sessions and they have all taken a lot from it, showing that the project is not just focused on the children but on the family unit as a whole.

"We have all learned so much from the sessions. I am on a diet but we have learnt you don't have to do that, especially for children. All you have to do is make some small lifestyle changes and they can make a big difference.

"Cerys has really learnt a lot. She has learnt a lot more about which foods are healthy and unhealthy and now checks the back of food packets to see what is in the food. She also does a lot more activities than she used to and has learnt how to do some cooking. It has taught her some important life skills."

However, it is not just the educational side of the project that has had a positive effect on Cerys. Dawn said that it has also had a very positive social effect.

"Cerys has made a lot of new friends through the sessions; we all have really. She really enjoyed going and seeing her friends and they all learnt together. She really misses it now and I think would jump at the chance of doing something like this again.

"It was also really good for the children to meet different types of people from different religions and ways of life that they maybe wouldn't normally have done."

Dawn was full of praise for the project but feels if children's unhealthy habits are to change then this is just a starting point and that there should be plenty more projects like this available.

"There should definitely be more things like this available to help kids. Obesity is such a big issue nowadays and so if it is to be prevented or helped then someone needs to put things like this on. Children need to learn about healthy living but they aren't always taught enough.

"Some people may see the adverts for places like this and this there may be an ulterior motive or that it won't be what it claims to be but this was 100 per cent genuine and I would recommend it to anyone".