Pupils from 30 primary and secondary schools across Birmingham are jumping for joy after picking up a Health for Life award at a celebration event in the city’s Council House.
More than 180 pupils and teachers were joined by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Carl Rice, and Dr Dennis Wilkes, assistant director of Public Health at Birmingham City Council, to celebrate the achievements they made as part of the Health for Life programme.
The Health for Life programme, which aims to promote active and healthy lifestyles across South Birmingham, has reached over 60,000 students and teachers in the last five years.
Funded by the Mondelēz International Foundation, it is delivered in partnership with the Health Education Service (HES), Life Education Centres West Midlands, with support from The Conservation Volunteers (TCV).
Dr Dennis Wilkes, assistant director of Public Health Birmingham, said: “In Birmingham alone, one in four children are clinically obese by the time they reach the age of 11. Therefore, it’s imperative that we support programmes such as Health for Life that are really effective in engaging children on the importance of leading an active lifestyle. Congratulations to all the schools who have worked so hard to receive their award.”
With a lack of green space, Sladefield Infant School used its Health for Life funding to create an exciting rooftop food growing space, allowing pupils to grow their own fruit and vegetables to create nutritious meals at school. Funding at Cardinal Wiseman Technology College was used to create a brand new dance studio which pupils now use for a range of physical activity, including Zumba, boxercise and drama.
Dr Sandra Passmore, education adviser at the Health Education Service, said: “It’s fantastic to see the pupils get so actively involved with the Health for Life programme. Every single pupil, teacher and parent should be extremely proud of the changes they have made both in school and in their home life.”
Kelly Farrell, community affairs manager at Mondelēz International, added: “We are extremely proud that Health for Life continues to make a positive difference to the lives of so many young people in the city. Over the last five years, the initiative has reached many schools and families. This is a great celebratory event to bring everyone together and reward them for their achievements.”
For more information about Health for Life in primary and secondary schools please contact [email protected]
