25 Mar 2019 Blackpool Council and the Lancashire Police Constabulary team up to deliver Healthy Breakfast sessions in Primary Schools
In 2016 Blackpool Council made the commitment to support the residents of Blackpool to tackle the issue of obesity by encouraging individuals to make healthy choices.
Since then an amazing amount of partnership working has been underway to move things forward. ‘’Being the first local authority in the country to sign a Local Authority Declaration on Healthy Weight meant we needed to be innovative and we quickly recognised that getting other organisations on board was going to be key’’ said Nicky Dennison (Senior Public Health Practitioner). Valerie Hutson, Healthy Lifestyles Nutritionist at Blackpool Council, discusses a new initiative for 2019 between the Council’s Public Health Team and Lancashire Constabulary Police…
As part of her normal community engagement role Community Support Officer (PCSO) Debby Savage has been visiting Blackpool Primary Schools talking to children about the importance of a healthy breakfast. Debby has visited parents evenings and during assemblies explained how breakfast can help improve mental performance, concentration and mood. She helped to make sense of the traffic light labelling on breakfast cereal boxes and encouraged the choice of wholegrain varieties whenever possible to ensure a good fibre intake. Children were also given a leaflet to take home outlining the myths and realities of the Free School Breakfast, provided every day to all thirty three Primary Schools by Blackpool Council.
Debby Savage (Community Support Officer at Lancashire Constabulary Police) said: ‘’My role is to help children develop healthy behaviours and I’ve really enjoyed engaging with them on a topic we don’t usually cover. It’s helped me to forge closer links in the community and if I’ve encouraged some of the children to make healthier food choices then I’m very happy. Feedback from the schools has been positive, Nicola Bunday – Deputy Headteacher from Boundary Primary School “Our visit from PCSO Debby clearly demonstrated how many sugar cubes were in some breakfast cereals and the damaging effects of energy drinks. The children learnt helpful facts and enjoyed having a PCSO in school”
To find out more about the initiative, please contact Valerie Hutson by emailing the following address: Valerie.Hutson@blackpool.gov.uk
