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Following the long running success of Torfaen Sports Development’s female only #ifyougoigo programme, it’s finally time for the men of Torfaen to step up and take on a similar challenge!
Torfaen BetterMan kicked off this week and will see 8 local men take part in a 10 week programme which focuses on breaking down the barriers and stigma that many men feel when it comes to living a healthier, more active lifestyles.
As part of the campaign, Torfaen Sports Development will:
- Provide a support network to ensure the men use sport and physical activity to improve the self-esteem and mental resilience
- Listen to men who want to be more active, understand the reasons why they’re not doing as much activity as they would like to do and work with them to make it as easy as possible.
- Promote exercise, and not just sport – national research shows that not everyone wants to be competitive, but that shouldn’t stop you taking part in regular exercise.
- Show that exercise and being physically active is the ‘norm’ for men of all ages, sizes and faiths and communities – it’s about the right people, in the right place at the right time and coming together as one to achieve their goals.
Participants will get the chance to take part in a range of activities to develop a fitter, stronger and healthier version of themselves, including a series of group and PT sessions, nutrition advice sessions and mentoring.
They will also have the opportunity to link with local clubs to try new sports and activities.
The BetterMan programme was originally meant to kick off in April 2020 but the project came to a standstill due to the pandemic and plans went out of the window.
Fortunately the same group of men were able to stay in touch online throughout lockdown. As walking took off during lockdown, the men did a number of individual walks, reporting back to the group how far they went and shared different routes for others to try.
Ben Jeffries, Torfaen Sports Development Officer, said: “It’s well known that exercise helps offset chronic disease but since the pandemic started more people have turned to exercising on their own as a way to support their own emotional state and mental well-being.
As we began to return towards normality and new ways of living and working, we want to be able to establish a support network through Torfaen BetterMan that not only supports those on the 10-week programme, but the male population of Torfaen as a whole.”
Torfaen Executive Member for Education, Cllr Richard Clark said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for men in the borough to come forward, set goals and work to become the best version of themselves.
BetterMan will work across communities and aim to tackle the stigma attached to men’s mental health. If you would like be involved in the future of Torfaen BetterMan whether as a participant, a local club or in any other way, our Sports Development team would love to hear from you.”
The second innings of BetterMan is due to take place in October 2021 and applications for the 10 week programme are now open.
If you’re a man aged 18+ living in the Torfaen area, you can put yourself forward for the BetterMan programme by submitting a 1 minute video on why you feel you would benefit from being part of the programme.
You will need to send a direct message to the Torfaen BetterMan Facebook page or email it directly to ben.jeffries@torfaen.gov.uk
Yn dilyn llwyddiant hirsefydlog rhaglen #oseidiafi i ferched yn unig, gan Adran Datblygu chwaraeon Torfaen, mae’n bryd o’r diwedd i ddynion Torfaen gamu i fyny a derbyn her debyg!
Mae Dynion Iach Torfaen wedi cychwyn yr wythnos hon a bydd 8 o ddynion lleol yn cymryd rhan mewn rhaglen 10 wythnos sy’n canolbwyntio ar chwalu’r rhwystrau a’r stigma y mae llawer yn eu teimlo pan ddaw hi i fyw bywydau iachach a mwy actif.
Yn rhan o’r ymgyrch, bydd Adran Datblygu Chwaraeon Torfaen yn:
- Darparu rhwydwaith cymorth i sicrhau bod dynion yn defnyddio chwaraeon a gweithgaredd corfforol i wella hunan-barch a gwytnwch meddyliol
- Gwrando ar ddynion sydd eisiau bod yn fwy actif, deall y rhesymau pam nad ydyn nhw'n gwneud cymaint o weithgarwch ag yr hoffent ei wneud a gweithio gyda nhw i'w gwneud mor hawdd â phosib.
- Hyrwyddo ymarfer corff, ac nid chwaraeon yn unig - mae ymchwil genedlaethol yn dangos nad yw pawb eisiau bod yn gystadleuol, ond ni ddylai hynny eich atal rhag cymryd rhan mewn ymarfer corff yn rheolaidd.
- Dangos mai ymarfer corff a bod yn actif yn gorfforol yw’r ‘norm’ i ddynion o bob oed, maint a chred a chymuned - gan annog y bobl iawn, yn y lle iawn ar yr adeg iawn i ddod at ei gilydd fel un i gyflawni eu nodau.
Bydd cyfranogwyr yn cael cyfle i gymryd rhan mewn ystod o weithgareddau i ddatblygu fersiwn fwy ffit, cryfach ac iachach ohonyn nhw eu hunain, gan gynnwys cyfres o sesiynau grŵp ac ymarfer corfforol, sesiynau cyngor ar faeth a mentora.
Byddant hefyd yn cael cyfle i gysylltu â chlybiau lleol i roi cynnig ar chwaraeon a gweithgareddau newydd.
Yn wreiddiol, bwriad y rhaglen Dynion Iach oedd cychwyn ym mis Ebrill 2020 ond rhaid oedd atal y prosiect ar unwaith oherwydd y pandemig ac aeth popeth yn drech.
Yn ffodus, llwyddodd yr un grŵp o ddynion i gadw mewn cysylltiad ar-lein trwy gydol y cyfnod clo. Wrth i gerdded ddod yn hynod boblogaidd yn ystod y cyfnod clo, gwnaeth y dynion nifer o deithiau cerdded unigol, gan gyfleu i'r grŵp pa mor bell yr aethant a rhannu gwahanol lwybrau i eraill roi cynnig arnynt.
Meddai Ben Jeffries, Swyddog Datblygu Chwaraeon yn Nhorfaen:
“Mae’n hysbys iawn bod ymarfer corff yn helpu i wrthbwyso clefyd cronig ond ers i’r pandemig ddechrau mae mwy o bobl wedi troi at ymarfer ar eu pennau eu hunain fel ffordd o gefnogi eu cyflwr emosiynol a’u lles meddyliol eu hunain.
Wrth i ni ddechrau dychwelyd tuag at normalrwydd a ffyrdd newydd o fyw a gweithio, rydyn ni am allu sefydlu rhwydwaith cymorth trwy raglen Dynion Iach Torfaen, sydd nid yn unig yn cefnogi'r rhai ar y rhaglen 10 wythnos, ond poblogaeth wrywaidd Torfaen yn ei chyfanrwydd. ”
Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Richard Clark, Aelod Gweithredol Addysg yn Nhorfaen, “Mae hwn yn gyfle gwych i ddynion yn y fwrdeistref ddod ymlaen, gosod nodau a gweithio i ddod yn fersiwn orau ohonyn nhw eu hunain.
Bydd Dynion Iach yn gweithio ar draws cymunedau ac yn anelu at fynd i’r afael â’r stigma sydd ynghlwm ag iechyd meddwl dynion. Os hoffech chi fod yn rhan o ddyfodol Dynion Iach Torfaen, p'un ai fel cyfranogwr, clwb lleol neu mewn unrhyw ffordd arall, byddai ein tîm Datblygu Chwaraeon wrth ei fodd i glywed gennych chi."
Disgwylir i ail rownd Dynion Iach gael ei gynnal ym mis Hydref 2021 ac mae ceisiadau ar gyfer y rhaglen 10 wythnos bellach ar agor.
Os ydych chi'n ddyn 18+ oed sy'n byw yn ardal Torfaen, gallwch enwebu eich hun ar gyfer rhaglen Dynion Iach trwy gyflwyno fideo 1 munud o hyd yn dweud pam rydych chi'n teimlo y byddech chi'n elwa o fod yn rhan o'r rhaglen.
Bydd angen i chi anfon neges uniongyrchol i dudalen Facebook Dynion Iach Torfaen neu anfon neges e-bost at ben.jeffries@torfaen.gov.uk
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