Collaborative Podiatry project 'QuickChange' gains recognition in helping future generations to enjoy exercise with fun animation

23 November 2023

The QuickChange project pilot won the UKPHR Improving Public Health Practice to Reduce Health Inequalities award in October and the judges highlighted that this was a well-planned project, with good partnership working demonstrated throughout.

The project also won best poster award at the National MSK Innovations in Wales conference, with delegates taking part in an impromptu run through the activities.

QuickChange is a tool for classroom based physical activity with school children aged 4-6 years old to encourage strength, balance and mindfulness, with the aim of helping to improve the health and wellbeing of future generations.

This collaborative project between Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Podiatry Services and Local Public Health Team, successfully produced and piloted an animation, with the aim of increasing children’s daily physical activity, whilst also promoting foot and ankle strengthening exercises in Reception and Year 1 classrooms.

The project was very well received among children and teachers, with some of their feedback captured below;

“The children really enjoyed the animation and were asking when we were going to do it next! The animation really helped the children and it was short enough to keep their attention.”

“The children thoroughly enjoyed doing the exercises and every day there was an improvement in their coordination when doing the exercises – practice makes perfect."

Steve Coombs, Podiatry Professional Lead, states that “the QuickChange profile has been raised considerably with these awards, helping to promote the benefits of daily fun filled exercises within the school classroom environment.”

Encouraging children to be physically active every day is important and by doing so they can improve their strength, balance and mindfulness, potentially reducing future musculoskeletal problems and weight issues.

By using friendly and engaging characters, QuickChange hopes to have a positive impact on children and adult’s future health and relationship with moving more, more often.

The NewidCyflym/QuickChange animation can be viewed in both Welsh and English