Leisure centres lend a helping hand to family support scheme

Caerphilly county borough's leisure centres have teamed up with charity Drugaid to help improve local families' skills and relationships.

The 'Strengthening Families Programme' aims to enhance parenting skills, develop young people skills and improve overall family functioning. As an incentive to encourage families to take part in the programme the county borough's leisure centres have donated free swim and fitness class vouchers for the families to enjoy once they complete the programme.

The programme, which is currently running at Blackwood Comprehensive School, is set to be rolled out in Heolddu Comprehensive School in November and in Risca Community Comprehensive School and St Martins Comprehensive School early next year, with four more to follow in the next academic year.

Some of the proposed outcomes of the Strengthening Families Programme include reduced substance misuse in young people, improvement in school attendance, reduced anti-social behaviour and improved family networks leading to overall stronger communities.

Strengthening Families Programme Co-ordinator, Sarah Glynn, said, "The incentives really make a difference to the families on the programme and I am very grateful to the county borough's leisure centres for their ongoing support."

For further information about the Strenghtening Families Programme please contact Sarah Glynn on 07824 596991 or email her.

To find out more about what the county borough's leisure centre can offer you and your family, please visit the Leisure Lifestyle website. or pop into your local centre.