NHS Leeds has been working closely with Leeds City Council to roll out the award-winning HENRY (Health, Exercise and Nutrition for the Really Young) programme to frontline staff in an effort to combat childhood obesity in the city.
In the first 12 months, since the programme was launched in November 2008, 330 staff across the city have been trained to deliver the HENRY programme. This means that over a quarter of Leeds children aged under four years old and their families can now access support from staff trained in this innovative approach.
HENRY aims to tackle childhood obesity by promoting healthier lifestyles through children’s centres. Once trained, staff work with families to improve their knowledge on parenting techniques, food and nutrition, the importance of physical activity for children and the early signs of becoming overweight or obese.
The programme is supported by the Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
The roll out of the programme is co-ordinated in Leeds by Jackie Moores, Advanced Health Improvement Specialist for NHS Leeds, who says: “The first year has been amazing with all the local trainers developing their skills and becoming more confident in support children and their families. This has been done under the guidance, mentoring and supervision of Candida Hunt, HENRY Programme Director and Sue Hanson, HENRY National Trainer.
“We are all really passionate about HENRY and feel that this approach will bring real benefits to the children and families we work with. We will be continuing to work closely with Leeds City Council to ensure that by the second anniversary of the programme we will be reaching out to an even greater number of children and families.”
The award-winning HENRY programme started in Leeds to help achieve some of the objectives from the “Can’t wait to be healthy - Leeds Childhood Obesity Prevention and Weight Management Strategy 2006 – 2016”. In the first year of the programme, 14 children’s centres in the city have hosted the training.
Maureen Parks Children's Centre Improvement Manager (Partnerships - Leeds Early Years Service) for Leeds City Council adds: “It is the first time there has been a true partnership approach to training. Having accredited HENRY trainers from both the Leeds Early Years Service and NHS Leeds has enabled health and children's centres staff to share skills on how to encourage people to lead healthier lifestyles.”
For further information about HENRY visit: www.henry.org.uk
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First year of award-winning childhood obesity programme hailed a success
First year of award-winning childhood obesity programme hailed a success
27 November 2009
