Aston Villa players Thomas Sorensen and Craig Gardner have opened a new gym for children to tackle childhood obesity.

Located at Aston Villa’s Premiership football ground, the SHOKK gym is the result of a partnership between Aston Villa’s Community Interest Company (CIC) and the Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust (HoBtPCT).

The two organizations teamed up last year in response to the growing problem of childhood obesity, which is particularly prevalent in the area covered by HoBtPCT, which includes the Premiership football club's stadium, Villa Park.

Research in local schools revealed that more than a third of 11 to 12-year-olds and almost a fifth of four to five-year-olds are overweight or obese. This led to the formation of the Villa Vitality Programme, which aims to encourage children to understand and appreciate the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, regular exercise and not smoking.

The football clubs hosts two day-long sessions per week, each for a maximum of 60 children, at its stadium as part of the programme.

The children’s gym is a natural follow on to Villa Vitality. Designed for 8- to 16-year-olds, it houses a full range of cardiovascular, resistance and interactive kit and allows children to take part in non-competitive, supervised activities in a friendly and safe environment.

Kevin Haywood, a representative from the HoBtPCT, says: “We’ve seen a worrying rise in levels of childhood obesity both on a national and local level. It’s never been more important to get kids active. Projects like Villa Vitality’ working alongside the new youth gym, hopefully go some way to encouraging young people to see the value of a healthier approach to living.”

Aston Ward's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund has funded the gym, which will be jointly managed by Aston Villa and Birmingham City Council's Leisure services.

Through HoBtPCT, school and practice nurses, local schools, GPs and school dieticians will be able to prescribe exercise to overweight or obese children who will then be referred to the gym. In addition, local schools will be able to use the facility during the day as part of PE lessons.

SHOKK is currently working with 11 local authorities across the UK to deliver physical activity and health solutions for children.

The company recently celebrated the launch of its 100th youth fitness facility when Carter Community School in Poole, Dorset installed a youth gym for children to use in PE lessons, at lunchtimes and after school.