Healthy lifestyle tops agenda

Batley Foyer took over Dewsbury’s Longcauseway Church on Monday to encourage young people to learn more about nutrition, mental health and exercise.

The Healthy Conversations Day, funded by the Big Lottery, aimed to educate 16 to 25 year olds about the health resources and services in their community.

Around 50 visitors enjoyed activities run by Rawthorpe Boxing Academy and the Bradford Bulls rugby league team, as well as workshops in graffiti, pilates, circuit training and beauty treatments.

The event also served fresh healthy food and ran a prize draw to win a mountain bike.

Client services manager Tracey Crowther said the boxing and Bradford Bulls workshops were popular.

She said: “We looked at how their health can be looked at differently, not just by their GP or dentist.

“It’s very difficult to engage young people in things they are not sure about, but once we got their attention they had a fantastic time, and so did we.”

Batley Foyer will act as a national hub as the programme is expanded to Tyneside, Middlesborough and Kent.

Young people were given information on drugs and alcohol as well as being informed about the benefits of a banana over a Big Mac and how food can affect your mood.

Batley Foyer visitors will now develop their own health action project for the Kirklees community.