Free fitness and healthy eating workshops will be staged in Leicester over the next five months for people from minority ethnic communities as part of a county-wide health campaign.
The programme runs until March and will include sessions from boxing binman Rendall Munroe, circuits and football as well as Caribbean healthy eating classes.
The first nutritional session will take place on Saturday, November 19, between 3.30pm and 5.30pm at the African Caribbean Centre, Maidstone Road, Leicester.
The campaign called Raising Awareness and prevention of Type 2 DIAbeTEs (RADIATE) is a new drive to raise awareness of the condition in ethnic minority communities in Leicestershire.
It is being organised by the Centre for Black and Minority Ethnic Health East Midlands.
Dr Natalie Darko, who is a Community Lead Researcher at the centre and is leading the programme, said: “This is about increasing knowledge about the consequences of Type 2 diabetes through a six-month community engagement programme.
“People from minority ethnic groups are at a disproportionate risk of Type 2 diabetes and experiencing associated complications. There are also often barriers in place preventing people from ethnic communities receiving the care, knowledge and understanding they need to enable them to avoid developing Type 2 diabetes.”
The programme is being run in partnership with the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine East Midlands.
It is supported by the National Institute for Health Research’s Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) East Midlands, a partnership of regional health services, universities and industry which turns research into cost-saving and high-quality care through cutting-edge innovation.
The fitness and sports workshops are for all ethnic minority groups, all ages and cover boxing, circuits and football skills. They will be provided by former European and commonwealth champion Rendall Munroe, who is from Leicester, and TripleSkilz.
The sessions take place at Highfields Community Centre, Melbourne Road, Leicester, and take place between 4pm and 5pm on the following Wednesdays: November 30, December 14, January 18, February 1, February 15, March 1 and March 15.
The Caribbean healthy eating workshops will provide advice and guidance on eating healthier and staying healthier as well as free food. Supported by Caribbean restaurant Johnny Cake, they will be held at the African Caribbean Centre, Maidstone Road, Leicester.
The food sessions take place on the following Saturdays: November 19 between 3.30pm and 5.30pm, December 3 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, January 21 between 10.30am and 1.30pm, February 4 from 12 to 3pm and March 4 between 12pm and 3pm.
The programme will culminate with a follow-up event at Loughborough University on March 18.
The project builds on previous research exploring the experiences, knowledge and understanding of Type 2 diabetes and its prevention in minority ethnic communities.The Centre for Black and Minority Ethnic Health East Midlands is working to reduce health inequality in the region by sharing resources and promoting research.
To take part in the fitness and healthy eating workshops, email bmehealth-em@le.ac.uk or call Dr Darko on 07803 585746.