Knowsley Council is partnering with national charity 4Children to launch a new campaign to improve health support for young people. The Make Space for Health campaign, supported by Nestlé UK, will see two local young people delivering a tailored programme of health support to teenagers as part of a peer to peer, approach to improving youth health.
Helen Forshaw, 19, and Lyndsy Ledden, 20, both from Knowsley will work with the Council’s Youth Service and directly with young people to deliver holistic health support across a range of areas including nutrition, physical activity and emotional wellbeing.
The Make Space for Health programme is being rolled out in five local authority areas throughout 2011 and brings together resources and expertise from the voluntary, private and public sector.
Lyndsy Ledden, 20, Knowsley Make Space for Health champion said: “Being involved in such a huge project is really exciting and also rewarding. The idea of helping young people is something I have always been interested I, as I myself have benefited from a peer education program in Knowsley with the local Youth Service Teenage Health in Knowsley (THinK) project and this new initiative gives me the opportunity to share some of my learning. I’m really excited about building on the emotional part of this program as often teenage emotional health is a little bit overlooked.”
Helen Forshaw, 19, Knowsley Make Space for Health champion said: “I’m really excited to be working on such a positive programme. The Make Space for Health project is going to help the young people of Knowsley live a healthier, happier life style. It will give them knowledge and information that they previously didn’t have access too and they will be able to share this with their peers, making them the educator. I’m sure we will see a great change in young people’s views on health that will benefit not only them but their future self and family.”
Peter Rogers, Director of National Programmes at 4Children said: “I’m delighted that Knowsley Council’s Youth Service is championing this initiative and supporting the young health peers in this new role.”
“Make Space for Health is not about telling young people what to do. We know that approach doesn’t work. This campaign helps to empower young people and give them the skills and knowledge they need to help each other to reverse unhealthy lifestyle habits. Research and our own experience tell us that young people are more receptive to advice and support when it’s delivered by peers. If we’re going to make a real difference, we need to start listening to what young people want and give them the help they need on their own terms.”
Cllr Wright, Knowsley Cabinet Member for Children & Family Services, said: “It’s really important that young people are made aware of the diverse range of health services, guidance and information available to them. The peer-led approach is already tried and tested in Knowsley through our teenage health in Knowsley project, known as Think, so I am confident Make Space for Health will be a success in raising awareness on a wider range of health matters.”
Paul Grimwood / Samantha Fulton, Nestlé UK said: “Encouraging young people to adopt healthy lifestyle habits at a young age is critical as it gives them the best possible chance of becoming healthy adults later in life. We are proud to be supporting the Make Space for Health programme which promotes healthy lifestyles to young people outside of school. With over 140 years of experience in food and nutrition research Nestlé is committed to adding value to the communities in which we operate and placing nutrition, health and wellness at the heart of everything we do.”
The Make Space for Health campaign was launched in 2008 and has been playing an important role in providing the solution to youth health issues over the past two years. It has achieved this through taking important health messages to young people across the country by:
1. Holding ‘cook-ins’ in youth clubs, bringing qualified chef’s into clubs to show young people how to prepare simple healthy snacks.
2. Providing free Make Space health activity resources for youth workers to use. 80% of young people surveyed said that their knowledge of health issues increased after taking part in the activities. These resources have now been compiled into a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme to be delivered in 5 local authority areas throughout 2011.
we need to begin enjoying what youth want and provides them the help they need on their own conditions.
Posted by: Sports Betting Advice | February 28, 2012 at 08:19 AM