Home

The Purpose of SHINE

SHINE (Self Help Independence, Nutrition and Exercise) aims to help obese young people, not only to lose weight, but also to develop a range of skills to increase in confidence and self esteem. This enables young people to make more permanent changes to their lifestyles and to become a healthier and fitter person, both physically and mentally.

The young people who participate in SHINE see a great improvement in their general health and fitness by participating in a wide range of activities. This is achieved through attending a series of programmes which helps young people not only make healthier lifestyle changes, but to also maintain these changes for a long period of time.

What do we do?

The SHINE programme runs over a year:

• 12 weeks programme: focuses on healthy eating, exercise, physical activities and emotional well being. Many young people in the group are emotional eaters and suffer from depression due to childhood traumas. There is a SHINE`Counsellor who helps the young people work through their feelings.

• 12 week consolidation: after the course participants are trained to become buddies and peer mentors and repeat the programme to help new group members. This is followed by a

• 12 week MAGIC course (Motivation, Assertive, Goal Setting, Initiative, Communication), which is an accredited course.

• 16 weeks: Young people over the age of 14 are also encouraged to undertake their Duke of Edinburgh Award, being involved in outdoor pursuits and camping expeditions. Those too young can participate in the same activities which will count towards the Lord Mayors Award.