Kick out health problems at free MOT session in Redditch

Men in Redditch can kick out any health problems they may be experiencing at a free MOT session at Redditch United FC next month, thanks largely to the support of one of the town's County Councillors.

Cllr Brandon Clayton has announced that £1,429 of his Community Leadership for Health Fund allocation will go towards helping the town's Health Trainer Service deliver their Health MOT event at the Valley Stadium from 1.30pm on March 6 - before the Reds entertain Ilkeston Town in the Blue Square North.

The event is aimed at men over the age of 16 and will offer a free health check and advice on such things from weight management, smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption and sexual health (Usual admission prices to the ground apply).

Cllr Clayton said: "It is so important that we all consider our health and do whatever we can to improve our physical condition. Men of a certain age are notorious at neglecting their health and only realise the importance of a healthier lifestyle when something goes wrong.

"The Health Trainer Service's MOT event is a really unique way of encouraging men to come along and discuss any concerns they may have. A day out supporting the local football team is a great social event and we hope fans will pop into the session before cheering the team on."

The session will take place in the bar area inside the ground and will be run by Mandy Childs, Senior Health Trainer (Redditch). She said: "If men looked after their health with as much care and dedication as their cars, motorbikes, fishing rods, football boots, computer games and technical gadgets, they would be supermen!

"That's why we are offering men a free MOT to raise awareness that good health supports them doing some of the things they care about at every age."

The Community Leadership for Health fund was established by Worcestershire Primary Care Trust in 2008 to help Worcestershire County Councillors become champions for better health and to play an important role in identifying schemes which promote better health among the communities they represent. All County Councillors have been allocated funding and asked to identify projects which promote healthier lifestyles within their communities.

Cllr John Smith OBE, Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member for Health Improvement, said he was sure the groups targeted for funding would make a real difference to residents across the county:  "It is great to see this fund going to such a good cause and we hope the money will make a real difference to the lives of the community these organisations target.

"County Councillors have worked hard to identify organisations which could benefit from this injection of funding and I am sure they will work with these groups to encourage and promote healthier lifestyles.

"It is so important that as a county we come together to promote exercise, sport and a healthy diet and all of the recipients of the Health Fund are set up to help us achieve this."