Witnessing a World Record is an amazing experience for any sports enthusiast!
When I decided to go to Berlin for my summer break little did I know the feast of sporting entertainment lined up for me. Most people pack regular items to go on their hols, I went armed with a Sporting Champions banner, binoculars and a big dose of anticipation.

At Heathrow, the first attempt to get support for our athletes was bestowed on British Airways check-in staff. They smiled for the camera as the Champions banner was draped in front of their Olympic 2012 promotion.

Although I didn’t have tickets for the first night at the Olympia-Stadion, I knew Chris Tomlinson was jumping his way through the qualifying rounds so I was keen to get…

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A recent conversation with a good friend of mine who is in a similar line of business turned to that ole chestnut ‘Recession.’
‘So how are YOU finding it, Andy?’
I pause because I want to give John an honest answer and I also want to focus on where I am now – and not the dark scary place that I’ve seen signposted periodically!
‘Well…there have been lots of opportunities to practice the skills of Managing My Mood…’
A chuckle from the other end of the phone lets me know that there really is no need to join all the dots up.
‘…And what would you say you’ve learned from that?’
I have a wee smile to myself - such are the conversations between two fellow professionals!

Checking…

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Last week I had the opportunity to visit three of the projects funded by the Team England Footballers Charity Outreach Programme. They were awarded their grants to support the football related activities they deliver in their communities, without which, I feel the youth of today in some areas would have no chance for a positive future.

Our first stop was the Smethwick Pakistani Muslim Association. Their objective was simple; find out what the young people want and provide them with an opportunity to do it. Every day over the school holidays the project workers have arrived at the community centre ready to respond to the young people’s needs. On this occasion it was football for the boys and netball for the girls. The Association…

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So - we host the Games in 2012, but what really can we expect to get out of it? My question is a little tongue in cheek as I am a huge supporter and advocate of the Games, but it is fair to say that not all around us are. The sports sector seems to be populated by others with an inbuilt sports heritage or fanaticism, but what of those who couldn’t care less? Our opportunity is surely to touch and help improve as many lives as possible, no matter how marginally, through the experience of 2012.

The initial forecasts and projections will need recasting as has the budget for building and hosting the Games, but where are the big wins to be had?
In my view, we could work to achieve the following:

1. A higher profile and…

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Fit for Business are proud to be associated with the BHF and would like to tell you that August 2009 sees the British Heart Foundation launch their new Health at Work website, which replaces the former ‘ThinkFit!’ website and is there to support health promoters in the workplace.

The new site has been redesigned with a fresh, vibrant look, easier navigation, lots of new content and exciting features. These include e-newsletter sign-up, a success stories search, an events calendar, news and downloadable posters.

The website contains up-to-date information on physical activity, healthy eating and mental wellbeing, plus lots of ideas, practical tools and downloads for the workplace health promoter to create a health club at…

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CPD – Continuing Personal or Professional Development - refers to a commitment to structured skills enhancement and personal or professional enrichment.
As part of Creating Excellence’s commitment to CPD, I was asked to attend a skills developing workshop to learn how to run ‘Focus Discussion Groups’. 

The course was run by The Eastern Development Centre and supported by Niace, (National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) in Ipswich and quite an unusually pleasant drive up the A12 saw me arriving at the IP-City Centre Building. 

I was one of the first to arrive, and it’s always awkward deciding what table you should join, so I opted for a seat adjacent to a gentleman and his dog, who I later…

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I have now pushed my chair 35,000 miles and have almost reached the magic £1,000,000 for my various charities.

I am continually involved and participate with ‘Hunter Company’, (injured Royal Marine recruits) at CTC Lympstone in glorious Devon (and have been for the last seven years) as well as my ongoing fund raising talks.

My last major push (still in my NHS wheelchair) was from Augusta to Perth, in Western Australia, over 300 miles, last year which raised over $20,000 for ‘Canteen’ (an Oz charity for children with cancer) and Legacy (Western Australian Police benevolent fund).

During the push I also gave my illustrated talks to childrens’ schools and local charity associations en-route. On my arrival at…

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The Government’s National Campaign ‘Change4Life’ is urging us to get our kids to ‘Eat Well, Move More’ and ultimately ‘Live Longer’.

But it isn’t just our kids that need to be ensuring they are having a balanced, healthy way of life; we as adults, parents, siblings, grandparents and even as children ourselves – should be living the values too.  What better way is there for our children to learn, other than by example?

Maintaining a healthy way of life comes down to, as I see it, a simple formula:

                                         
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