Exhibition parks up at White Rose

For parents who are concerned that their children will become couch potatoes during the summer holidays, a visit to the White Rose Shopping Centre could be just the thing - and not just for retail therapy.

This month the White Rose will be playing host to an interactive touring exhibition aimed at teaching five to 11-year-olds about the benefits of regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

The Mission: Active Future bus, which is normally based at Eureka! will be visiting the centre from Monday, August 6 to Sunday, August 12 when young visitors will be encouraged to think about their bodies, diet and fitness through a unique series of hands-on puzzles, multimedia quizzes and fun physical challenges.

The scheme, which was created with funding from Sport England and the Big Lottery Fund, has already received rave reviews from double Olympic gold medallist Lord Sebastian Coe.

He said: “Mission: Active Future is one of the most interesting and exciting projects I have seen in the last ten years because it directly targets the age group we want to engage before inactivity sets in and it becomes hard to ignite children’s interest.”

The bus will be on site in car park four at the White Rose, near the Upper Circle entrance and will be open from 11am to 1pm and 2-5pm each day.

Children can take part in free 20 minute sessions inside the exhibition for which suitable footwear is required, through plimsolls can be borrowed if necessary. They also received a free Activ8 wallchart and Eureka! ticket for taking part.