Novocastrian Lloyd Valentine has long had a commitment to the disability sector and his latest project is no different.
Healthy Change Challenge (HCC) has been designed to be a fun and empowering healthy eating, shopping and exercise program for people with a disability and/or mental illness. It is a registered NDIS provider and as a social enterprise any funding outside of NDIS is directed towards opening the program to more challengers and employing more challengers to run the program.
In addition, HCC has partnered with the University of Newcastle to undertake research on HCC challengers into lifestyle factors that lead to people with a disability and/or mental illness having the lowest life expectancy of any population in the world.
With this in mind, Lloyd and the HCC team are asking business to back the program, based on the evidence of improvements that have already come out of the program.
“The challengers not only learn to conduct their own exercise, shopping and cooking sessions in teams and teach each over the travel independently, they are now running and instructing sessions for the general public demonstrating how they too can improve their own health and wellbeing,” Lloyd said.
“In just 12 Weeks, Challengers improved across a range of testing parameters conducted by UoN including feelings of health and wellbeing, blood pressure, heart rate, healthy and unhealthy food recognition, BMI (weight), strength, core strength and flexibility.”
“Given the amazing outcomes the program has been achieving for challengers, HCC and the UoN are now seeking funding to open up the program to any willing participants with a disability and or mental illness in the Hunter Region and across Australia in coming years,” Lloyd concluded.
HCC is about making long term improvements to the eating and exercise habits of the challengers working collaboratively with their families, carers and friends. The program runs for two days per week, for 16 weeks. The program looks to open up new physical activity and eating experiences for challengers around the Hunter Region.
“I set this program up and immediately saw the benefits from the small number of people involved,” Lloyd continued. “This really is an example of how a profitable Social Enterprise can service people in need more effectively without the operating restrictions of being a NFP or charity.”
“We are seeking corporate sponsorship and grants with 100% of funding, outside of NDIS, going directly towards the program and research. Most charities and NFP cannot do this because they rely on these sorts of funds to exist and so a much smaller percentage goes towards the social benefit they are supporting.”
“Not only is there complete transparency and accountability for people’s generosity, the HCC crew are happy to promote organisations that give us support!” Lloyd concluded.
If your business would like to partner with Healthy Change Challenge, please contact Lloyd Valentine at healthychangechallenge@gmail.com
IMAGE | HCC participants flexing their muscles
