Parents and children across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven are being invited to join a free online Zumba session this February half term with the School Nursing team at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust.

The session has been organised to get families moving and recharging together while children are off school, and to promote how much exercise can improve our physical and mental wellbeing. It will be held live and for free on the School Nursing team Facebook page on Wednesday 15 February, 10.00am-10.45am.

Susan Francis, Workforce Development Lead at the Care Trust, will be running the event. Sue has been a qualified Zumba instructor for six years and hosts Zumba sessions across Leeds and for her colleagues, as part of the Trust’s internal Lively Up Yourself campaign to improve staff wellbeing.

Sue said: “I love seeing people smiling as they move along with music from around the world, including salsa, reggaeton, flamenco, bhangra, afrobeats and pop. I regularly have students bring their teenage children along to my classes. It’s great to see them enjoying the different rhythms and I make a point of encouraging them to join in.

“Zumba helped me through many difficult periods in my life including divorce and the menopause, so I know what difference it can make. It brings communities and families together and I’m very much looking forward to the event.”

Zumba, an exercise programme created by Colombian dancer Beto Perez, combines Latin-style dance with cardio exercises to give the whole body a thorough workout. The physical and mental health benefits of the activity are well documented and the School Nursing team has organised the session to show families across the district the benefit of physical exercise.

Kim Henderson, School Nursing Clinical Lead at the Care Trust, will be at the session and said: “It’s so important to show young people that staying active is fun, makes you feel good, and keeps you healthy.

“We wanted to give parents or carers and their children something to get involved in while they’re not in school, but make sure it’s accessible and fun – which is why we’re hosting this online through our Facebook page, so that anyone can join in from home.”

To take part, people can follow the School Nursing team’s Facebook page and join the live stream on Wednesday 15 February at 10.00am.