Health Action awards call to schools

The annual Health Action Awards, which have been running for a decade, reward the best health promotion work being carried out in schools and colleges in an effort to improve the health of local children.

Action Cancer Health Promotion Assistant Charlotte Hyndman said: “The recent DHSSPS Health Survey found that 21 per cent of children in Northern Ireland are overweight, and that 10 per cent are obese. These are quite shocking figures, especially given that being overweight can be a major risk factor in developing cancer and other serious illnesses later in life. In fact we know that 40 per cent of cancers can be prevented by adopting a healthier lifestyle.”

Charlotte challenged local nurseries, schools and colleges to gain recognition for their health promotion projects, saying: “The Health Action Awards are a key element of our schools programme, which has delivered health promotion sessions, funded by Centra, to almost 440,000 young people. We would like to see as many Lurgan schools as possible take part and tell us about their health initiatives.”

Schools and colleges can get entry forms by contacting Action Cancer on 028 9080 3344 or online at www.actioncancer.org

A prize of £200, for purchasing school equipment, will be awarded to the highest scoring pre-school or nursery, as well as each of the top scoring primary schools, secondary schools or colleges in each of the five Education and Library Boards. An overall cash prize of £400 will go to the school that shows the best improvement on the previous year.

Completed Health Action Award forms must be returned to Action Cancer by April 26 and successful schools will be notified at the end of the academic year.