Heading for Health

Middlesbrough Football Club in the Community formed a partnership with Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust in 2005 to deliver a concentrated healthy lifestyle programme in 7 primary schools in East Middlesbrough.

The initiative aims to improve the children’s and their families level of physical participation, improve health awareness, improve health choices and increase confidence and self-esteem.

The initiative uses a wide variety of programmes to promote the healthy lifestyle message.

We provide physical activity for children prior to school in a safe and enjoyable environment.

We highlight the importance of a healthy breakfast and understanding that it is the most important meal of the day.

We monitor children’s eating habits during lunch time and encourage healthier choices, promoting a balanced diet and providing physical activity opportunities.

We give the children the opportunity to improve physical activity levels by participating in either after school football coaching or health, fun and fitness.

The sessions are designed to be fun and enjoyable to create a positive learning environment which will hopefully lead to an increase in physical activity levels inside and outside of school.

This programme is aimed at children in years 5 & 6 and it covers many lifestyle issues including:

• Healthy eating
• Diet
• Smoking
• The human body
• Healthy Teeth
• The importance of warming up
• The importance of physical activity
• Racism
• Citizenship
• Bullying