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ROKT Foundation and Invictus Wellbeing charities have joined forces and
secured funding to support mental health and wellbeing for children and young
people aged 9-17 years old in Calderdale, Kirklees and Bradford schools.

See our brochure attached below for full details and for more, email katie.kinsella@roktfoundation.co.uk

ROKT Foundation Invictus 2023 schools brochure (final)

A ground-breaking new project to use climbing to help women transition through the menopause has launched.

Our West Yorkshire-based charity ROKT Foundation will use the Olympic sport to help women tackle the effects of menopause alongside other key therapies.

Bouldering, rope climbing and caving are all on the agenda for the 16 women on the pioneering pilot course which runs for 10 weeks until April, dubbed ‘Moving Through Menopause’ and funded by a Sport England Jubilee Grant.

Here at ROKT Foundation we believe this is the first dedicated climbing course aimed at helping women through the menopause that features additional expert advice and classes – ranging from nutrition and wellbeing to working with a specialist menopause GP expert.

The key aims of the course are to improve women’s physical and emotional wellbeing, building muscle memory, targeting key physical areas like bums, tums and core, and mindfulness – alongside insights into hormonal imbalances and HRT treatments.

Katie Kinsella, ROKT’s Director for Community & Business Engagement, said: “We­­ believe this is the first time climbing has joined forces with clinical and holistic interventions and been shaped into a full course. This not only harnesses the power of the sport, but adds critical other elements to help women through areas of menopause widely accepted as key challenges.

“There’s some brilliant work going on nationally using climbing to support women and menopause, but we’ve gone that step further – and higher – by putting this 10 week package together.

“It’s about understanding the changes taking place and then what we can do to manage the transition and make it much easier. Building confidence and self-esteem is a critical part of this and helping provide ladies with the tools they need.

“A great example is addressing an issue like brain fog – we know it happens, but we don’t have to accept it. Climbing is a great leveller, so giving the group something to focus on – like climbing up a 21m lead wall – helps train focus on just one thing. This of course is complimented by tips on getting better sleep, nutrition and self-care, all of which will help reduce common symptoms like brain fog.

“Like this course, the menopause is a journey and you don’t suddenly go from pre-menopause to post, it can take years. That’s why the advice and guidance our partner experts can bring to the table will be so vital and adds to the unique nature of this programme.”

Experts in the fields of health and nutrition include GP Dr Ailsa Care, who has spent more than two decades guiding women through the menopause and is a strong advocate for functional medicine – and understanding environmental impacts on health and the root causes of problems.

Jana Shirley was originally a dancer before falling in love with the recovery techniques for lower back pain through pilates. Now Jana works to support others with chronic pain and discomfort – specialising in the discomfort menopause can have on the body and how improved movement and core strength can help combat this.

These experts are also well-versed in nutrition and will be supported by Chair of ROKT Foundation and Italian restauranteur and hotelier, Lidia Shinwell. Lidia will focus on the benefits of Mediterranean influences in people’s diets which can have a positive impact during menopause.

The first pilot course has now started, but there will be many more to come throughout 2023.  Ladies who live in Calderdale – and close surrounding areas – who are interested can get in touch on info@roktfoundation.co.uk

To find out more about ROKT Foundation see www.roktfoundation.co.uk or watch films at www.youtube.com/@roktfoundation

Ends.

Notes to editors:

Images: Course participants (L to R) Lisa Jagger, Sarah Crossland and Lindsay Hawker

For images, video, interviews and press visits, please contact Graham Poucher on graham@poucherpr.co.uk or 07587 180005.

Projects partners include:

www.drindra.co.uk  www.pilateshuddersfield.co.uk

www.facebook.com/lidiasitaliankitchen

We didn’t win, but we were delighted to make the final for the Charity of the Year at the amazing Community Foundation for Calderdale awards.

Brilliant event and a packed room full of amazing people doing great things for Calderdale and beyond.

Well done to The Maurice Jagger Centre for winning ‘Charity of the Year’ in their 40th anniversary year!

And of course to everyone who was nominated. What a town we have.

This month we hosted a pilot session of a small group of youngsters on the West Yorkshire Police Calderdale Early Intervention Programme.

The four week-long, intensive support programme which has taught about the dangers of knife crime, gang culture, assault and County Boundary Lines, culminated in a final learning session in ‘Active Urban Adventure’.

To kick start the day the students were treated to a session with experts from British Weight Lifting, learning how to lift a variety of weights safely and the impacts of weight training on mood and physical health.

This was followed by a learning session with the Early Intervention Team where the students discussed about the common crimes youngsters of their age are at risk of getting involved in and the consequences.

The students were then challenged with two hours’ of hard climbing activity including low level bouldering, indoor caving and high rope climbing.

We were amazed at how well they worked as a team and two students, fearful of heights, made it to the top of the 21.5 metre lead wall – what an achievement!

Finally, the group tested their problem solving and team skills to master the Project Breakout escape room in under 60 minutes with great success.

This small group showed excellent manners, listening skills and teamwork. They all tried something out of their comfort zone and were amazing to work with.

Our very own ROKT Foundation dog, Murphy loved them! Well done all of you and keep making good choices.