WOMEN from black and Asian ethnic groups are getting Euro cash to help stamp out obesity in their communities in London’s deprived East End. The money has been stumped up for free courses for unemployed women to become qualified YMCA kids’ fitness instructors

By Mike Brooke

WOMEN from black and Asian ethnic groups are getting Euro cash to help stamp out obesity in their communities in London’s deprived East End.

The money has been stumped up for free courses for unemployed women to become qualified YMCA kids’ fitness instructors.

It follows the Government’s battle of the bulge’ to fight child obesity which is rampant in East London, where specialised child obesity clinics have been running for the past three years.

“Obesity rates are spiralling for both adults and children,” said the YMCA’s project manager Rebecca Bridges.

“The need to develop an army of professionals to help improve health has never been greater.”

Her organisation has landed grants from London Councils and the European Social Fund which have been earmarked for unemployed women from the Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Somali communities in Tower Hamlets and neighbouring Newham to go on the 12-week course at the Bromley-by-Bow centre. It starts February 27, running two days-a-week from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

Nationally-recognised qualifications are given in little over two months if they get through the course and they also get help finding a job in health and fitness.