Tracey Pereira wins Community Exercise Instructor Award

17 March 2008

Beating very tough competition Tracey Pereira from Lewisham won Community Exercise Instructor of the Year at the recent Pro-Active Awards.

Tracey is qualified to deliver both dryside and wetside fitness classes. She currently works for a Parkwood Leisure delivering classes to Women’s Only, 50+ GP Referral and schools across Lewisham. The Everyday Swim co-ordinator for Lewisham Jo Melchior said, 'Tracey is the most enthusiastic and charismatic exercise professional I have come across for many years. She is very knowledgable and highly professional in her preparation and presentation. I am using Tracey to deliver several health themes in my project including MEND graduate – Teen Health and Key Stage 4 Aquatic Activity programme. Due to her growing reputation she has recently been recruited by a local community organisation Building Healthier Communities as their Physical Activity Manager to deliver and enhance their highly successful community Men’s and Women’s Health Themes'.

The panel were particularlty impressed with Tracey's resolve in delivering a Health programme for the African Community Partnership (ACP). The programme ran for 12 weeks and encompassed pilates, yoga, cardio training and aqua classes with talks on diet and nutrition and advice from health professionals on depression, sexual health as well as diabetes, hypertension and smoking cessation.  As chief recruiter Tracey went into pubs, betting shops and barbers to make sure she got the people who needed this programme signed up.

London Swimming was also recognised as Partner of the Year at the Pro-Active Awards