Everton in the Community embarks on a partnership with Nuffield Health

Everton in the Community’s innovative programme supporting local veterans was given further backing recently when it embarked on a partnership with Nuffield Health to improve the health and wellbeing of former servicemen and women.

Launched in February 2016, Knowsley Veterans Hub engages ex-service personnel with sport, training and social activities and works to help them adjust with the transition from a structured, highly disciplined lifestyle to civilian life.

The relationship with Nuffield Health will see the veterans embark on a complimentary 12-week fitness programme and Everton Ambassador Graham Stuart went along to the Riverside Drive based gym with a group of KVH participants to take part in a health MOT and PT session as well as look around the impressive facility.

Designed to give individuals a full picture of their health and fitness, the health MOT measures a number of things including BMI, cholesterol, blood sugar level and aerobic fitness.

Led by Kris Redmond, Deputy General Manager of Nuffield Health Liverpool, the PT session assessed the various fitness levels of the group and included a classic military-style bleep test as well as short circuit exercises before they relaxed their tired muscles with a swim and a visit to the steam room and sauna.

Speaking after the first visit to Nuffield Health, EitC’s Knowsley Veterans Hub Project Coordinator Dave Curtis said: “It has been a great start to what I believe is going to be a fantastic 12-week programme with Nuffield Health and the next few months can really help our participants to not only improve their health and wellbeing, but also their lifestyle. Having Graham join us in the bleep test to launch the start of this partnership was fantastic and he said he’ll be keeping tabs on how we are progressing which is extra motivation!”

Nuffield’s Kris Redmond said; “Nuffield Health has a commitment to its local community and by supporting Everton in the Community’s Knowsley Veteran’s Hub programme, it allows us to put something back into the community we serve. It’s great to be able work in partnership with Everton in the Community who share our vision and values and we look forward to helping change lives across Merseyside.”

Knowsley Veterans Hub openly welcomes veterans and their families to engage in the project with available provision including one-to-one information, advice and guidance sessions; weekly coffee mornings offering an informal opportunity for participants to meet and facilitate social bonding; invaluable referral links and signposting to ex-forces specific organisations and a wide range of physical activity sessions.

For more information on Knowsley Veterans Hub and how to get involved contact Dave Curtis, via email on david.curtis@evertonfc.com.