New Year, New start with Jog Belfast

Jog Belfast in partnership with Active Belfast, is hosting a free, fun 10 week physical activity programme for beginners, starting in January across Belfast.

The programme, funded by the Public Health Agency, encourages people who have not run before to get active by taking up walking, jogging or running. The start of the year can be a difficult time for many people, here’s a chance to feel good, make friends and even lose weight in the process!

There are two sessions per week and each session lasts one hour. At the end of the 10 weeks, participants who wish can take part in a 5km jog or run, to show the result of their 10 weeks in training!

Open to people of all ages and abilities, the following sessions in January are:

East Belfast (Victoria Park)

Sessions: Thursday (6:30pm-7:30pm) & Saturday (10:30am-11:30am)

North Belfast (Girl’s Model School)

Sessions: Monday (6:30pm-7:30pm) & Wednesday (6:30pm-7:30pm)

South Belfast (Ormeau Park) – Starts: Contact Jog Belfast Coordinator

West Belfast (2 Venues)

Sessions: Tuesday (6:30pm-7:30pm at Andersonstown Leisure Centre) & Saturday (10:30am-11:30am at Falls Park)

Sean McQuade, Active Belfast Physical Activity Referral Coordinator said:

“Active Belfast, under the Belfast Strategic Partnership, continues to address life inequalities that exist in Belfast by supporting people to lead a more active lifestyle. Jog Belfast is one programme we support to help tackle obesity across Belfast.  Physical activity can help people lose weight, boost confidence, improve mental and physical health and help reduce certain chronic illnesses. I encourage Belfast citizens to get involved, especially those who have not tried jogging before.”

Matt Shields, Jog Belfast Coordinator added:

“This is now a well proven programme that has processed over 1000 ordinary people from all walks of life. There is nothing fearful or embarrassing about joining Jog Belfast; we are all starting from a very basic level and all the venues and teams are welcoming. Benefits recorded by previous participants are more energy, more friends, sleeping better, running farther, handling life better and the list goes on! So if your thinking could I, yes, you could and you won’t be alone.”

ENDS

Further Information:

• To register for Jog Belfast please visit activeni.org; search ‘Jog Belfast’ on Facebook or telephone Matt Shields, Jog Belfast Coordinator on 07595 269308.

• For more information on Active Belfast, contact the Active Belfast team on: 9050 2073 or email:activebelfast@bhdu.org

• For media enquiries please contact Debbie McGrory, Communications Officer, Belfast Strategic Partnership, on Tel: 9050 2073. Ext. 3795 or email: Debbie.mcgrory@bhdu.org

Photo Caption: Matt Shields, Jog Belfast Coordinator, Kat Maguire, South Belfast participant and Sean McQuade, Active Belfast.

Notes to Editors: 

1. Active Belfast is a wide ranging and innovative programme of work to improve the activity levels, health and quality of life for all residents of Belfast, regardless of their age, gender, culture or ability.

2. Jog Belfast is one of the many programmes funded by the Public Health Agency through Active Belfast. This programme is open to people of all ages and abilities.

3. The Belfast Strategic Partnership has been set up to address life inequalities. Its partners are representatives from Belfast City Council, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Public Health Agency, statutory organisations, the private sector as well as community and voluntary agencies.

 

Return to News