What is the Pledge for a Healthy and Active Future?
This Pledge for a Healthy and Active Future (hereafter PHAF) has been co-developed by Food Active1 and the Health and Wellbeing Service (Leeds City Council).
The PHAF is a set of commitments that can be adopted by both primary and secondary schools. The pledge commits schools to supporting staff, pupils, families and the wider community to eat well and be physically active by providing a school environment which is conducive to encouraging healthy behaviours. The pledge can be signed by any school within a locality who has adopted the Local Authority Declaration on Healthy Weight2. The PHAF helps schools to support their local authority in achieving the commitments set out in their Declaration. It also supports some criteria for the Healthy School Award, should your school be working towards this.
The PHAF is currently in its ‘test and learn’ phase, which will involve piloting the pledge in a number of schools, with a view to refining the process and supporting materials using the invaluable feedback from those taking part in the pilot. This is an exciting opportunity for schools to get involved in the development of this new resource and will support Leeds City Council in making the city a healthier place for children, young people and families.
Background context
Overweight and obesity affects many children, young people, parents and carers and school staff; the environments in which we live, work, learn and play have a significant role in influencing our health behaviours. Providing a clear commitment to creating a culture and environment that supports your school community to eat well and be physically active can impact not only on a person’s weight status, but also their relationship with food, which impacts on their future health and future life chances.
Aims of the PHAF
The PHAF aims to bring people together for a common vison. It may help parents understand the changes your school is making to promote a healthy weight. For example, why you have a healthy birthday policy, why the school has challenged the ice cream van parking outside the school gates or why the school is introducing more physically active learning as part of the school day. It can also be an opportunity to build on, highlight and celebrate existing work already taking place in school that is supporting health and well-being, such as participation in sport or engagement with the Healthy Schools Programme.
What sort of capacity will we need to progress this piece of work?
We estimate that it will take schools anywhere between 2-4 months to implement the PHAF. However, as this is a pilot the schools will be best placed to be the judge of that.
We are interested. What next?
Please email Siobhan Jennings to confirm your interest: Siobhan.Jennings@Leeds.gov.uk.