The UK’s first dedicated children’s health club (7-16yrs) is opening in Sol Central, Northampton.  The health club aims to target sporty, active and inactive kids and young adults alike alongside sound nutritional and lifestyle advice from registered dietitians all under the same roof.

t2 is holding a free open weekend between 10am –4pm on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September, to give local kids, and families, a go at the massive range of exciting activities on offer.  Bruce Reihana, the Saints Rugby Captain, will be there from 11am-12noon on the Sunday to support the opening. 

t2 is turning the tables on gaming technology, which has long been seen as a cause of childhood obesity, creating the perfect cure for children’s inactivity by offering game consoles that are worked by the body, rather than the thumbs.  In addition a specialist dietetic/nutrition consultancy is available for all nutrition related problems for children, adults and families alike.

Eight funky arcade-style dance platforms will challenge children to move their feet to the latest dance tunes following step routines on a massive screen, and two Sportwall target panels will offer countless different games based on points/lives won and lost.

The computer games, from ZigZag interactive fitness solutions, work on the concept that whilst the children’s minds are distracted by a fun and exciting game, their body is doing a workout.

t2 also includes a boxing zone with punch bags, speed balls and kick bags, and an indoor mountain bike studio where children and families can enjoy indoor mountain biking classes set to music and footage projected onto the wall.  Other fun sessions include team combat and bounce classes, where kids get to play games and have races on space hoppers.  t2 also includes a traditional gym circuit of resistance machines.

Usual health club membership rules have been flipped on their head at t2 and only adults accompanied by their children can attend!  Children aged 7 – 16 can sign up for memberships, and t2 will run a series of family sessions throughout the week and at weekends, where parents can workout and have fun with their kids.

The health club’s owners, Leigh Spatcher, a personal trainer and Cirian-Marie Beddoes, a county renowned Consultant dietitian, are experts in their fields and aim to give members balanced, beneficial support and advice on leading a healthy lifestyle.

Cirian-Marie Beddoes said:  “I was working as the county lead for obesity and nutrition, and Leigh, who had 12 years experience as a personal trainer, as a senior travel officer for the county council when we decided to set up the health club.  We were both frustrated with knowing what needed to be done to tackle childhood obesity, but seeing no one prepared to do it - funding streams from the Primary Care Trust still didn’t prioritise lifestyle management and obesity.  So, we started plans to set up an obesity programme, then progressed to a ‘site’ for personal training and a dietetic clinic and eventually came up with the idea for a ‘one stop shop’.  The rest is history!”

Leigh Spatcher said:  “We have chosen equipment that is as universal as possible to allow children and their parents to work out together, such as the dance platforms.  We are really excited about our dance classes as these platforms have become something of a phenomenon in arcades across the world.  The fact that we can now offer families the chance to workout on them together is a fantastic coup for us.”

The open weekend, at t2, Sol Central, on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30th September, is free and no booking is required.  For further information contact t2 on 01604 250023 or visit www.fatchanceuk.com.