FREE sessions for parents/carers concerned about their child’s weight

’12,0000 parents received letters informing them of their child’s weight’

As part of Sheffield Let’s Change4Life, experts from Carnegie Weight Management will be holding FREE information sessions for any parents/carers who are concerned about their child’s weight. Sessions start on Wednesday 21^st July and will continue throughout the summer and into the autumn term.

These sessions are held in each community assembly area in Sheffield from 5.30pm onwards for one hour starting Wednesday 21^st July. The workshops will give top tips on how to help children achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Parents will be given advice on how to make small changes towards a healthy and active lifestyle for the whole family.

Workshop details:

CENTRAL Wednesday 21st July, 5:45pm – 6:45pm

Quaker Meeting House, 10 St James Street, Sheffield, S1 2EW

NORTH Wednesday 28th July, 6-7pm

The Venue, 650 Manchester Road, Stocksbridge, S36 1DY

NORTH EAST Wednesday 28th July, 6-7pm

Four Greens Community Centre, Southney Avenue, S5 7NN

SOUTH WEST Wednesday 11th August, 6-7pm

Scouts Hut, Bradway Primary, School, Bradway Drive, Sheffield, S17 4PD

EAST Wednesday 11th August, 6-7pm

Centre in the Park, Norfolk Heritage Park, Guildford Avenue, S2 2PL

SOUTH Friday 20th August, 5:30-6:30pm

Graves Park, Norton, Sheffield S8 7LL

SOUTH EAST Friday 20th August, 5:30-6:30pm

Crystal Peaks Library, 1-3 Peak Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S20 7PH

Professor Paul Gately, Director of Carnegie Weight Management said “These sessions are unique to Sheffield and a great opportunity for parents/carers to come along and get key guidance and top tips on how to keep their family healthy and active and how to talk to their children about their weight. It is a safe and supportive environment in which parents to get the information they need”

Amy Buddery, Health Improvement Practitioner for Children and Young People at NHS Sheffield said: “Over 12, 000 letters have been sent out to parents and carers of Reception Year children and Y6 children in Sheffield to inform them of their child’s height and weight results as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The main purpose of the progamme is to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy food, and taking part in physical activity.

“The programme is not intended to question individuals parenting skills but to simply help support families to make positive changes to their family’s lifestyle.”

The sessions aim to:

• Increase and raise awareness of overweight and obesity in children
• Support professionals and public to have the ‘weight conversation’
• Increase confidence & collective responsibility in tackling obesity
• Signpost to services.

The free parents sessions are just one part of a whole range of training awareness sessions that Carnegie Weight Management (CWM) are delivering across Sheffield throughout 2010 and into 2011. The ‘Sheffield Let’s Change4Life Training and Awareness Programme’ also includes training for professionals and awareness to the general public.

Professional training is available to anyone in Sheffield from healthcare professionals to Community Health Champion, who may work with families and children as part of their job role. The programme aims to raise awareness of the causes, consequences and misconceptions of childhood obesity and to provide information which will support them to have the ‘weight conversation’ with children and families.

In addition to professional training, CWM is delivering awareness raising sessions and activities for the general public. These include parent sessions (as above), family fun sessions, and large scale public open events. The sessions, for families aim to raise awareness and engagement in healthy lifestyles. Events for the public include the Sheffield Lets Change4Life 100 Calorie Shop, Sugar Pit and Quizdom. Upcoming events are:

• Sheffield Play Day, Wednesday 4^th August at Hillsborough Park from 11am
• Sheffield Fayre, Monday 30^th August at Norfolk Heritage Park

For more information on any of the Training and Awareness sessions as part of the Sheffield Lets Change4Life programme please contact Carnegie Weight Management on 0113 812 5233. Email family@leedsmet.ac.uk, visit http://www.sheffieldc4l.org.uk/families/fun-healthy/. Alternatively text FAMILIES and YOUR NAME to 88020

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