Two new youth gyms have opened at leisure centres in the Borough of Rochdale in a partnership project between Link4Life, Rochdale Council and SHOKK.

Cultural Trust Link4Life’s key priorities include improving local facilities and encouraging children and young people to become more physically active. Designed especially to meet the needs of the junior market, these new fitness facilities have been installed at leisure centres in Littleborough and Middleton.

The SHOKK Youth Gym – for 8- to 16-year-olds - features cardiovascular, resistance and interactive equipment and provides a dedicated place for young people to get fit and have fun in a safe, secure environment under the supervision of qualified staff.

The gym includes multi-player dance mats – with a separate customised dance studio in Middleton - vew-do balance boards – which are similar to skateboards and give kids the chance to improve their balance - and unique youth gym equipment, such as fluid machines, resistance machines and functional weights designed for children. The overall package on offer also includes junior fitness sessions.

Craig McAteer, Link4life managing director, said: “The project was put in place based on consultation between Rochdale Youth Services and local young people and has received funding from the Youth Capital Fund. It will support the other sporting and activity programmes we are running and although we still encourage it, we understand that young people today aren’t doing enough traditional outdoor activity and have different tastes and requirements to previous generation.’’