Twins’ venture getting kids fit at the double

Identical twins Esther Bottomley and Laura West have teamed up to tackle obesity and improve fitness levels in schoolchildren.
Sisters Esther Bottomley and Laura West have set up a business called Activ8 Kids Yorkshire. (w620b437)Sisters Esther Bottomley and Laura West have set up a business called Activ8 Kids Yorkshire. (w620b437)
Sisters Esther Bottomley and Laura West have set up a business called Activ8 Kids Yorkshire. (w620b437)

The sisters set up their business, Activ8 Kids Yorkshire, after realising that youngsters were not getting the exercise they needed just from school PE lessons.

The pair are now running after school clubs and have been working with pupils and staff to offer different activities in PE lessons.

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They also organised a summer holiday camp with a variety of fitness-related activities.

Mrs Bottomley, 42, from Middlestown, said: “We are personal trainers and qualified fitness instructors who have also qualified in children’s sports.

“We have always worked together and we have always been passionate about health and fitness.

“We both now have children of primary school age and we realised this was something we wanted to get involved in.

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“We set up the business in February and it has been really successful so far.

“Our aim is to get children involved in exercise, to make them love fitness without realising they are doing a sport.

“We use characters and lots of different games to get pupils moving – traditional games such as ‘What’s the time Mr Wolf’ and ‘crocodile, crocodile’. During the summer camp, we had a few days where it was really hot so we organised some water sports, which went down really well. The children had a great time running about and it was just fun for them - but they were getting some great exercise at the same time. 
“Too many kids these days play on their X-Box and computers instead of playing out with their friends like we used to do. They aren’t getting the minimum amount of exercise that they need.

“The children are really enjoying themselves and they love the fact we get involved. We have had great feedback from pupils, parents and the school.”

Visit www.activ8kidsyorkshire.co.uk for more information. School who are interested in running sessions with Activ8 Kids Yorkshire should call Mrs Bottomley 07703 501106.