Backing for child health firm

Jun 4 2008 by Sion Barry, Western Mail

A MID Wales company encouraging young children to adopt healthy active lifestyles has received investment from a xénos business angel as part of a UK expansion.

Health Matters Education provides specialist support packages for primary schools and pre-school settings to support National Curriculum activities and the National Healthy Schools Status scheme.

Established by health and fitness expert Vicky Bowen, the Welshpool-based business provides resource packs, incorporating planned activities using books, DVDs and CDs, and workshops for teachers to support the promotion of fitness and healthy eating among young children.

The £50,000 investment through xénos, the Wales Business Angel Network, will allow the company to expand its services to primary schools and pre-school settings throughout the UK as part of a nationwide launch, at a time when children’s health is a major area of health education.

The company has worked in partnership with the Association for Physical Education and Shropshire County Council to develop its resources and has developed a website – www.healthmatterseducation.co.uk – to promote its products and services.

Ms Bowen said: “I’ve been involved in the health and fitness industry for more than 18 years and during that time I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge and experience, particularly in promoting children’s health, fitness and wellbeing.

“I’ve always wanted to spread my passion more widely and realised that there was a niche market for this in terms of an enterprise which would allow me to pursue my personal motivation for encouraging healthy exercise among children while running a business. I needed additional funding in order to move the business forward and the investment from the xénos business angel has ensured we can launch the business nationally.”

Ms Bowen developed the Health Matters and Busy Feet resource packs to support teachers and early years professionals delivering areas of the National Curriculum. Both resource packs have undergone a four-year programme of development before being rolled out. The company also provides half-day workshops for schools using a team of experienced health and fitness experts.

Richard Bonfield, xénos regional manager for Mid Wales, said: “Vicky’s passion and drive to promote healthy exercise and eating among children has proved to be a real opportunity for her to turn this into a successful business. Critical to this was the ability to raise funds to support the growth of the business and the investment from the xénos business angel will ensure the roll-out of the enterprise throughout the UK.”