Short film shines a light on a fantastic year for award winning Fit Rovers Families project at Savoy Cinema event

What better way to take a look back at how far an award winning project has come within a year, than to showcase a special video at the cinema!

That’s exactly what the team behind the Fit Rovers Families project did! 

Last month, participants and babies involved with both the pre and post natal courses were invited to the event at the Savoy Cinema in Doncaster city centre, to relive the past year for the project. 

Arriving to the cinema screen, they were greeted with a colourful balloon archway, before entering the screen to collect their complimentary popcorn and sweets and finding their seats. 

Alongside families, special guests were also in attendance, from funders to volunteers and representation from Doncaster Rovers Football Club, who all spoke about the project they’d seen and the positive impact it has had on people within the local community in only a year. 

Two parents also discussed their journey on the post-natal course to the audience and how the programme has changed their life.

The short film highlighted both the pre and post natal courses, activities that take place on a weekly basis, along with some exciting additional events too, putting the stories of participants and the project in the limelight. 

Rovers’ club captain Tommy Rowe has supported the project since the start, attending a number of sessions to interact with participants and babies. After attending the event at the Savoy, he reflected on what he’d seen: “I am incredibly proud of all the amazing staff who’ve made the Fit Rovers Families scheme possible. 

“Having attended early classes, it was great to see the physical health benefits and more importantly, the mental and emotional benefits that this programme is having on local mums. 

“It was great to hear their stories and to reflect and share my own experience of being a parent. 

“It is a privilege to be a part of something so important and I’m excited for the future projects that will reach the wider community.”

With a 98% course retention for both the pre and post-natal courses and 82% of those who attended a post-natal course going on to access the Vets sessions, the project has become a very popular course within the Foundation.

Louise and Natalie also attended the event, who’ve already been involved in the pre-natal course, spoke of looking back at memories on the screen and how they can’t wait to move onto the next course: “The savoy event was brilliant, well organised and such a unique experience. Seeing the photos and video on the big screen was amazing. 

“I was on the prenatal course and looking back on photos and the video reminded me how brilliant the course was. I am even more excited to start the post natal course with my daughter after seeing what it entails. 

“I would highly recommend this course to any parent pre or post natal.”

Lauren Platts, who heads up the Fit Rovers Families project, spoke about the success of the event, which showcased the past year of the award winning project: “We are really proud to have hosted our first ever event to showcase the work we have done over the last year with Fit Rovers Families Pre and Post natal parents. 

“We pride ourselves on being innovative, a project that is unique and totally different to anything else around. We wanted to showcase this on the big screen, the massive impact the project has had on local families and discuss the plans for the future of Fit Rovers Families. 

“A huge thankyou to Savoy Cinema for hosting the event and also to all the parents and special guests who attended.”

You can view the video on youtube here.

Interested in being involved in the Fit Rovers Families project as a new or expectant parent, a volunteer or even to provide services, please contact the team at fitfamilies@clubdoncasterfoundation.co.uk.