Health for Life, an evidence based, award winning programme funded by Mondelēz International, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. To mark the milestone, the scheme is giving schools the opportunity to receive one of three Health for Life grants of £5,000.
The Health for Life programme was introduced in 2011 and helps adults and children in the West Midlands to focus on living a healthier life. It’s achieved through activities such as growing fruit and vegetables, learning about healthy eating, improving cooking skills and taking part in a range of physical activities.
Mondelēz International has invested over £4.5m in the initiative to date, reaching more than 225,000 children and adults in Birmingham over the past 10 years.
To celebrate a decade of Health for Life, Mondelēz International is offering three Health for Life schools from the West Midlands the opportunity to develop the programme further with a £5,000 grant, which can be used to support a project of their choice. From a brand-new cooking classroom and school allotment to an all-new dance studio and playground, schools can choose what the substantial donation will help fund for their students.
Schools hoping to receive one of the grants will need to complete a two-part submission, with entries closing in spring 2022 and successful applications announced in the summer term.
Health for Life is delivered in partnership with Services For Education and The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), through local schools and communities. To date, the programme has engaged with more than 180 Birmingham schools, positively impacting over 66,000 pupils. The initiative has also reached 160,000 adults in Birmingham including teachers, parents and community members.
Many primary schools now have better access to cooking through the development of new kitchen areas and improved equipment, inspiring a 26% increase in pupils cooking at school. They have also been given the means to create their own gardens, giving thousands of children the chance to learn how to grow fruit and vegetables.
Pupils have also benefited from new sports and playground equipment courtesy of Health for Life funding, increasing the range and opportunities for pupils to take part in physical exercise.
In the community, Health for Life has developed 17 community food growing spaces in Birmingham, giving individuals and local groups the chance to take part in TCV’s Green Gym activities; working outdoors and growing their own food.
Kelly Farrell, community affairs manager at Mondelēz International, has been driving the Health for Life scheme for the past decade. Kelly commented: “It’s truly been a privilege to be part of Health for Life and see the impact it’s made over the years. Talking to local school children and hearing how much they love having the chance to be outdoors, grow their own food and develop new cooking skills in school puts everything into perspective.
“Our aim a decade ago was simple; inspire local people to develop and sustain a healthy lifestyle culture at school, at home, and in their local community. The additional grant funding is a boost to enable three schools, with special projects in mind, to expand their efforts and offer students additional and engaging experiences to enjoy at school. We’re incredibly proud of everything the initiative has achieved and look forward to the next 10 years of Health for Life!”
For more information about the work carried out by Health for Life in schools, please visit https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/health-for-life/ and, in the community, visit www.tcv.org.uk/midlands/health-for-life.