Published on: Friday 1st January 2010
Successful £1/4 milion SHOKK dance mat launch in Kirklees
A funky new way to exercise was officially unveiled at Dewsbury Sports Centre by the Mayor of Kirklees.Clr Julie Stewart-Turner cut the ribbon on the new “activity area” at the sports centre to officially launch the Dance Mats Project. This is a unique project to encourage children and young people to become more active and healthier.
NHS Kirklees gave £¼ million to the pioneering project, delivered by Kirklees Active Leisure and Kirklees Council, which offers a revolutionary way to exercise which is particularly attractive to young people and children. The SHOKK equipment is housed in new “activity areas” at Dewsbury and Whitcliffe Mount sports centres.
SHOKK, the Youth Activity People, provided the new range of interactive products, which encourage young people to get active in a fun and entertaining way. SHOKK offers a concept specifically designed to engage and challenge all young people. Using the most up-to-date technology, SHOKK equipment gets users exercising without them even realising it, which keeps them motivated and interested in activity.
The SHOKK Activity Area at Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre includes the revolutionary Wireless Dance Mats System, Traverse climbing wall, Target wall, Wushu martial arts tower and Vew-Do balance boards. Dewsbury Sports Centre also has some SHOKK gym equipment within its Activity Area, and a Motivatrix, the latest in next generation fitness technology instead of a climbing wall.
The event was attended by 30 delegates from local organisation including Kirklees Council, PCT and Education. Speeches were made by Alasdair Brown (Chief Executive, KAL), Jonathan Williams (Chief Executive, SHOKK) and Dr Judith Hooper (Director of Public Health, NHS Kirklees).
Pupils from Westborough High School gave a demonstration of the equipment under the guidance of SHOKK and KAL instructors.
Alasdair Brown, Chief Executive of KAL, said: “We are very excited about this thoroughly new project which takes a proactive approach towards getting young people participating in fun group exercise.
“Together with our partners, Kirklees Council, NHS Kirklees and SHOKK, we are keen to get everyone interested in a project which will affect the futures of so many young people in Kirklees.”
A further four portable dance mat sets are being used by schools on a rolling basis throughout Kirklees. During the school holidays, these will be transported to other Kirklees Active Leisure centres encouraging even more young people to get active.
The Dance Mats project supports the national Change4life initiative which aims to prevent people from becoming overweight by encouraging them to eat well and move more.
