Trust-run SHOKK youth gyms in Rochdale have received direct funding from the NHS Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale to provide free access for eight to 15-year-olds.

The funding is intended to encourage more young people in the borough to engage in physical activity. Operator Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust (trade name Link4Life), manages the centres on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council. The funding is meant to support a range of initiatives to provide opportunities for familes and young people to take advantage of local recreation and fitness facilities.

Managing director Craig McAteer said: "From the very first days of the Trust we recognised that to get young people regularly exercising we had to radically overhaul the services we offered. Youth services funding was secured for our first SHOKK centres which have proved to offer facilities needed to successfully engage with the demanding youth market. " NHS South Birmingham has also funded SHOKK interactive products for the recently refurbished Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre. The facility features three multi-functional Target Walls and a dance system with 16 wireless mats with three difficulty levels.

The centre already provides an Exercise on Prescription scheme and access to health advice and groups. The new kids gym, installed with the intention of encouraging more youth to be active, complements the centre's refurbished gym, swimming pool and sports hall and enlarged dance studio. Councillor Nigel Dawkins said: "Cocks Moor Woods has become a leading council-run facility, offering a plethora of activities. The new SHOKK interactive products ass to the range of activities available for young people. One of Birmingham's new Local Area Agreement targets is to improve the health of our children and young people and I believe the new facility is one way we can do this."