Another exciting Bike It week. You have got to love the variety of this job! Monday morning was an early leg stretch out to Brunswick and Ballifield primary schools to get some cool events planned in for this term.

Tuesday was a little different, lets just say it involved a fun track, some good riding and a film crew, top secret see.  More will be revealed another time.

As well as a couple more planning meetings in schools and a good meeting planning some great city wide events for national bike week (19th – 27th June). A lot of the rest of my time has been planning for the Beat Peat competition. This is giving pupils at Bike It schools across Sheffield a chance to race a virtual Steve Peat. Who’s he you may well ask? Well if you didn’t know already Sheffield is the home to the current Downhill Mountain Bike Champion and all round biking legend Peaty! It is launching next week, look out for it in the local press.

One last thing for now, if you want even more up to date info on Bike It, you can now find me at www.twitter.com/BikeItHenry

Filed under: Henry's Bike It blog by Henry Norman
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I’ve had lots of school meetings recently with groups or families of schools to talk to them about how the Sheffield – Let’s Change4Life programme can support their school. I had an exciting meeting last week with two families of schools who are taking part in a fruit and vegetable growing and cookery programme with Nonna’s Restaurant. Some of the schools have chosen to grow Mediterranean vegetables like they use in the restaurant. The Chefs from the Nonna’s will them visit the schools to demonstrate how they cook with them.

Talking of fruit and veg I have decided that every time I blog I’ll count how many portions of fruit and vegetables I’ve eaten the day before to see if I’m meeting the recommend 5 A DAY. Yesterday I had a banana, a pear, a handful of grapes and broccoli so I managed 4 portions, I did have an apple with me also but think it is still in the bottom of my bag! I’ll try a bit harder today!

Did you know that increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables by just one more portion a day can have a positive affect on your health. Why not try it and see if you can build up to 5 A Day too!

Filed under: Healthy Schools blog by julier
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I’ve just come off the phone to HR Media, the biggest PR agency in Sheffield and a member of the Chamber. We’re working with them on some really exciting activities for the Sheffield Let’s Change4Life programme for the coming year. We want to raise the profile of the programme so that every business in Sheffield understands the threat posed by obesity and what we are doing to tackle it.

Until the details are finalised I can’t reveal what the planned activities are but rest assured that they will put a whole new healthy spin on how businesses traditionally work with each other. So keep an eye on this website as you’ll hear the news here first…

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It’s been a pretty interesting start to the new year, snow meant closed schools and closed schools means time in the office! Normally two weeks in the office would be a little tough, not enough fresh air and too much working at the computer. But it was nice and warm in there and it meant I had lots of time to plan plenty of cool events for this term, including a couple of competitions and a geography mapping project being done in partnership with the University of Sheffield and the Geographical Association.

This weeks been a return to normality, lots of time on the bike getting out into schools and meeting with the school champions and bike it crews to plan events for the term. A couple of highlights being Meynells Valentine Love your Bike Day and Watercliffe Meadows Easter Egg cycle to school day. The weeks been rounded off by a trip to have a look at (and a ride around) Fox Hill BMX track, it might have been tipping down but it was great fun.

Filed under: Henry's Bike It blog by Henry Norman
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On the evening of Wednesday 27^th January healthy eateries and catering establishments in Sheffield will go head to head at the first annual Healthy Choices Award Ceremony.

More than 50 venues in Sheffield have already achieved the Healthy Choices status but the award ceremony held at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club will see the caterers recognised with further accolades including:

• Healthiest Food Choices
• Most breastfeeding friendly establishment
• Sourcing food locally
• Fairtrade
• Community Champion Award
• Most Inspiring Award

To achieve Healthy Choices status a venue must comply with ‘food safety’ and ‘healthy eating’ criteria and can score extra by being breastfeeding friendly, sourcing food locally and serving fair-trade products.

Siobhan Horsley, Food Programme Manager at Sheffield Wildlife Trust who runs the Healthy Choices programme said: “The award ceremony tonight is a celebration of the establishments in Sheffield who wish to offer dinners a healthier overall experience.

“Such a range of caterers have been involved in the scheme since it began, and this is demonstrated in the diversity of shortlisted nominations, which include Nonna’s, St Mary’s Church, Olive Bar and SWFC, amongst others.

“The attendees of the ceremony will not only get to learn how other venues are making healthier choices available to customers, but actually taste what is on offer from the Healthy Choices signature buffet – which will be made up of a range of dishes from shortlisted establishments.”

Carol Weir, NHS Sheffield’s Programme Director for the Sheffield-Let’s Change4Life Programme said: “All the caterers in Sheffield that are part of the Healthy Choices Scheme have shown a commitment to offering well-balanced and nutritious food options to their customers.

“Research shows that 1 in 6 meals in the UK are now eaten outside the home and it’s great to see that businesses in Sheffield are playing their part in helping to prevent obesity.”

A list of all the Healthy Choices Award establishments can be seen at: www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk/council/sheffield-city-council

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On 6 November an Awards Ceremony ‘We are the Champions!’ was held to reward community members in some of the least healthy parts of Sheffield who have been changing lives, and giving hope and health back to our most vulnerable residents.

The Health Champions are all volunteers working to make positive changes to the health of people in their communities, and the awards will be presented by Councillor Gail Smith, who is keen to recognise this pioneering work.

Many of the Champions themselves have come from challenging backgrounds, and have found new hope through the scheme. Claire, a Health Champion in Parson Cross says “I didn’t get on at all in school. Through being a Health Champion I have accessed training and I now run a weekly walk, I do risk assessments, and also take a group of people to the gym every Friday morning. I look much better, eat better and feel better.”

There are currently over 70 Health Champions working across the city organising activities such as walking groups, healthy eating activities, group activities such as dancing or swimming for older people, families, and other groups identified by the champions themselves in their communities.19 Champions received awards for contributing 100 hours or more of volunteering on the programme.

The Health Champions model is proving to be a pioneering and effective way of reaching people and making a real positive difference within the target communities, and the project will be expanding over the coming months to recruit a further 100 Champions and increase the scope of the work across the city.

The project is managed by the Sheffield Wellbeing Consortium, a consortium of over 40 voluntary and community sector organisations across the city, funded by the Big Lottery and the Sheffield – Let’s Change4Life programme, and overseen by Sheffield City Council’s Health Partnership Team and NHS Sheffield.

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Pupils at Sheffield school Watercliffe Meadow Primary will quite literally be getting ‘on their bikes’ today (22nd October) for a ‘bike to school day’.

The Bike to school day, organised by Bike It, encourages pupils and parents to leave 4 wheels at home and take the healthier route to school. All the participating pupils will get a free breakfast on arrival and will also benefit from Dr Bike sessions during the day.

‘Bike It’ is Sheffield’s school cycling project, working with children to encourage them to safely cycle to school. Since the programme began a year ago it has gathered momentum with 23 participating schools in the city. Previous Bike It events have included cycle tournaments, organised rides and numerous Bike It breakfasts including the exceptional turn-out at Totley Primary School in May where over ninety children arrived by bike.

Henry Norman, Bike It officer who is funded through the Sheffield – Let’s Change4Life Programme said “My experience so far tells me that there is a big appetite for cycling in Sheffield. Pupils, parents and teachers have shown great enthusiasm and I can already see that the numbers of pupils cycling into school is on the rise.”

Carol Weir Programme Director of the ‘Sheffield – Let’s Change4Life’ Programme said: “Cycling is a great way for children to achieve 60 minutes of their recommended daily activity. The Sheffield – Let’s Change4Life programme aims to prevent obesity in children, young people and families by changing culture in the city, which means making small changes in every day life such as cycling or walking to school in stead of travelling by car”.

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Nonna’s Italian restaurant has become the latest in a number of Sheffield caterers pledging to offer its diners healthier food choices in order to enable them to achieve a well-balanced and nutritious diet.

Nonna’s have received the Sheffield Healthy Choices Award, which was developed in 2006 and is delivered by the Food in Sheffield (5 A DAY) Programme at Sheffield Wildlife Trust in partnership with NHS Sheffield and Sheffield City Council. The award is given to food outlets throughout the city including hotels, restaurants, takeaway shops, schools and workplace canteens, to show they care for their customers by providing healthier food choices.

The most recent food outlets in the city that have completed/ are working toward the award include Nonna’s, Sheffield International Venue’s, Sheffield United football ground, Sheffield Wednesday football ground – who now offer crayfish linguine alongside the traditional meat pies, and the newly opened SMaRT Venue on London Road.

To achieve the award caterers must comply with ‘food safety’ and ‘healthy eating’ criteria and can score extra by being breastfeeding friendly, sourcing food locally and serving fair-trade products.

Carol Weir, Programme Director of the Sheffield-Let’s Change4Life Programme said: “Research shows that 1 in 6 meals in the UK are now eaten outside the home so it is vital that caterers in Sheffield offer well-balanced and nutritious food options to their customers. We already have major restaurants and caterers in the city committed to offering ‘healthier alternatives’, this demonstrates the importance of health to their diners.

“The ‘Sheffield- Let’s Change4Life’ Programme aims to prevent obesity in children, young people and families by shifting attitudes and culture in the city at all levels – and it is vital that city businesses play their part in the programme.”

Siobhan Horsley, Food Programme Manager at Sheffield Wildlife Trust said: “The Healthy Choices Award Scheme is about making healthier options more accessible to everybody – that doesn’t necessarily mean eating only salad and vegetables but having the option of choosing a baked potato in place of chips.

“All the healthier choices on the menu at Nonna’s will be labelled with a ‘Healthy Choice’ sticker to make it easy for diners to find. Restaurants, like Nonna’s, are beginning to notice how important the impact in health is on their customer – after all a healthier customer stays with you for longer!”

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On the 13th August 2009 Health Secretary Andy Burnham set out a vision for a fitter England by claiming we must move from relegation candidates to play-off contenders in the international physical activity league tables to improve health and cut costs.

This is something NHS Sheffield and Sheffield City Council are addressing head on as part of the Sheffield-Let’s Change4Life Programme.

The £10 million programme addresses the problem of obesity in the city and the health impact obesity has such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancers which cost NHS Sheffield £150m in 2007

Jeremy Wight, Director of Public Health, NHS Sheffield said: “We share this vision with the Health Secretary and believe that as the 4th largest city in England Sheffield should be top of the league for fitness.

“Some of the initiatives we are planning that encourage people in the city to be more active through the Sheffield-Let’s Change4Life programme are really exciting and innovative.

“Our Healthy Schools teams have met up with representatives of the big sports clubs in Sheffield including SUFC, SWFC and the Sheffield Eagles, and agreed to develop the work in partnership with clubs and schools – something that has proven to help even the most sports adverse children to engage in physical activity.

“The programme allows us to fund our very own Bike It officer, we are one of only 4 places in the country to have more than 1, who helps children, schools and parents to develop and take part in cycle to school schemes.

“We are improving parks across the city, and improving access around local neighbourhoods encouraging people to walk or cycle and use the green spaces in their community more. Evidence shows that being outdoors encourages people to be more active.

“With the funding and activities of the Change4Life Healthy Sheffield programme I see no reason why Sheffield shouldn’t be the most active city in the country”

Councillor Sylvia Dunkley, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism from Sheffield City Council said: “Being physically active is not just about visiting the gym; everyday activities can help you get and stay physically active! Sheffield has such fantastic facilities, so we should strive to be the most active city in the country. Add life to your years and years to your life!”

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Sheffield is encouraging more new mums to breastfeed by offering them support from women whose children have benefited from being breastfed.

A new contract has been awarded to the Action for Children charity by the Sheffield-Let’s Change4Life programme to expand the successful, “mum to mum” peer support project and ensure mothers belonging to the most deprived groups in the city get the right advice and support.

Caroline Burrows, breastfeeding lead from NHS Sheffield said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Action for Children and look forward to a comprehensive Peer Support Service being established across Sheffield.“

The new contract will mean many more women are available to speak with new mothers and give them advice on the benefits of feeding their baby breastmilk. All new mothers will be contacted within 48 hours of leaving hospital (or after a home birth) and asked whether they would like to use the service. Mothers will be given details of local weekly drop in sessions, breastfeeding cafes and antenatal and postnatal support. Women living in neighbourhoods that have low breastfeeding prevalence could also benefit from daily drop-in sessions and home visits.

Jo Zasada, Programme Manager from Action for Children said: “Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world; it gives babies all the nutrients they need for the first six months of their lives, and also allows mums and their babies to get closer – physically and emotionally. Through the new support service we’re hoping to give Mum’s advice, support from other Mum’s that have had a positive experience, help them to feel confident about giving their baby the best start in life and support them on their breastfeeding journey.”

Cllr Alison Brelsford, Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet Adviser for Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning, said: “I have breastfed my own two children and it is something I am strongly in favour of. Anything that can help other women do the same is a very good thing in my opinion.”

The Action For Children peer support funding has come through the Sheffield-Let’s Change4Life Programme, which aims to provide all children and families in Sheffield with the opportunity to maintain a healthy weight and remove any barriers which may prevent them from doing so.

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