Club Doncaster Foundation's Fit Rovers programme expands with brand new Fit Rovers Dad's course

As the Fit Rovers programme continues to grow, Club Doncaster Foundation are delighted to be launching a brand new course, aimed at dad’s and their children.

Fit Rovers Dads is a dynamic, community-based project designed to strengthen the bond between fathers and their children through engaging, innovative healthy lifestyle workshops and fun physical activities. 

The project, funded by Public Health Doncaster promotes active fatherhood, family wellness, and positive habits by creating shared experiences centred around health, education and fitness.

It’s a 6 week health & wellbeing course, free to attend, which will provide dads and their children the opportunity to spend time together, during the two hours based at the Eco-Power Stadium.

It follows the success of the award winning post Fit Rovers Families project, with a slightly different angle, providing a more hands on approach, with activities more suited for dads. 

The first hour sees those in attendance, get involved with a variety of classroom based workshops, covering a number of topics including mental health, first aid, healthy lifestyles and social media awareness. 

Following the workshops, dads and their children then take part in an engaging physical activity together, including glow in the dark dodgeball, go karting and orienteering. 

Heading up the new course, is Jake Woodward, Health & Wellbeing Co-ordinator at the Foundation, who has seen a positive impact with families from the first week. 

“The dad’s have been saying how engaging it is, the activities, everything outside of it too. 

“They’ve had time to spend together, not just on the course, but together at home too, rather than just the two hours with us, through additional resources we’ve provided for them.

“It’s really important to take a break and spend quality time with their family.”

Ben, who has already attended Fit Rovers Men’s, grasped the opportunity to attend the new dad’s course alongside his daughter. “I’ve been coming to Fit Rovers for a year, I did the men’s course and really enjoyed it, so when the opportunity came up for me to do this with Jess, I wanted her to experience it, so it’s nice to support the Fit Rovers and everything that they do. 

“We’ve looked forward to it every week. It’s just nice for families to spend time together, especially doing different activities too, trying new things. 

“It gives you confidence and it’s nice for the kids to enjoy it aswell. Some of the course is covered in the Fit Rovers Men’s course, so that’s another reason I wanted Jess to come and get involved, to actually see some of the health benefits that are covered as topics.”

Ben’s daughter, Jess, has found it’s given her the chance to spend more time with her dad too. “I think it helps us spend more time together than what we already do. It kind of helped me to understand sugar content and what’s in food, with the different activities. I’ve looked forward to it every week.”

Lucy, has also attended the course alongside her dad and brother and feels she’s learnt a lot from the course activities. “I’ve learnt how to keep a healthy diet, the things you find in a first aid kit, how to use a go kart and I’ve learnt how to do burpees.”

It’s not just the learning element that has helped Lucy and her brother. It’s the family time it’s provided for their dad, Shaun, too. “I thought it was a great way to spend some time with the children,” Shaun said. 

“The kids like different activities so we don’t always get the time to do things together. So I thought it would be a good opportunity to do something like this. 

“The activities have been really good and the classroom sessions have been fantastic too. Both the children have enjoyed it too. 

“We’ve had a refresher on the first aid course, about eating healthy, some of the dangers of social media.

“You always want your children to grow up, but as they’re growing up, it’s the realisation that they’re not children anymore. So the more time you can spend with them, really makes all the difference.

“We’ve loved it and encourage any families to do it.”

Future plans will see the project more into communities and various areas around Doncaster, giving families access to attend the free course, throughout the year. 

Are you a dad in the local area? Interested in getting involved in our next course? Please contact fitfamilies@clubdoncasterfoundation.co.uk to register your interest in our upcoming course.