Making a difference: your council and you

In an article contributed by the councils’ business development manager Lynda Nurse, the first interviewee is Tammy Waine, Active Communities Officer for Adur and Worthing councils’ Wellbeing department.

Tammy works with young people across the area. She said: “I am a happy person who loves to laugh. I really enjoy working for the councils and love my job. I am also a football coach, working with Brighton & Hove Albion.”

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I play football for Brighton and Hove ladies and am a coach for Brighton and Hove Centre of Excellence, under 17s squad. I also undertake personal training, so my life outside work is pretty packed!

I have always been a bit of a tomboy and first started playing football while at primary school. Female footballers were pretty rare at the time and my only option was to play on the boys’ team.

This caused a bit of confusion in the playground, but I stuck to my guns, found my feet and have not looked back since. At the age of 18, I was lucky enough to be awarded a full four-year football scholarship to Auburn University in Alabama. While there, I broke numerous goal-scoring records and my shirt is currently on display within the university museum! I could have stayed and moved into coaching, but I wanted to come back to England and returned to play semi-pro for Fulham ladies. I am now the first team captain for Brighton & Hove.

Tell us a bit more about your job.

I have been working with Adur and Worthing councils since December, 2004, and feel really lucky to have such a great job. I work closely with children and young people and have developed my expertise within the health and wellbeing field.

I’m interested in supporting young people to get up and get active, as I have experienced first-hand the positive affects that sport can have on an individual. My role is currently divided into two sections. Half my time is spent working with the More Active Communities team. The idea here is to engage under 19s in physical activity, with a remit of getting them more active. We work with local clubs, schools, leisure providers and community groups and undertake a number of different projects.

Current initiatives include wheelchair racing at Worthing Leisure Centre, supporting local schools with indoor athletics competitions and encouraging outdoor activity and play through our National Playday event.

This event takes place at Southwick Recreation Ground each summer, and is totally free. Past activities have included a human football table, custard pools, bouncy castles and water slides. Great fun for all!

The other half of my role is to project-manage British Heart Foundation’s HeartyLives Adur. This is a three-year, funded project undertaken via the British Heart Foundation. We target children aged four to six, and 12 to 14, in residential and foster care. The aim is to educate them about healthy eating and physical activity, and to let them know the benefits that this has on the heart. We also run a six-week programme in primary schools, providing interactive and informative sessions that keep the children engaged.

They also get take-home challenges, which parents can help with. Our mascot for this project is a giant heart called Artie Beat, which I often end up wearing around town!

• The councils’ wellbeing team works on a wide range of initiatives and these are just a few examples of projects Tammy and the team are involved with. For a full list of activities taking place or to get in touch, log on to www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/get-up-and-active