Cancer Focus's Free Schools Health Education Package

SHEP encourages children to make healthy choices from an early age.  The key messages will cover a range of relevant topics including healthy food choices, the importance of regular exercise, covering up in the sun to prevent skin damage and highlighting the harmful effects of smoking while developing the skills necessary to refuse that crucial first cigarette. 

Clare Smith, Project Manager at Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, the new name for the Ulster Cancer Foundation, said, “Children of all ages will benefit from being involved in these highly interactive and engaging activities which are designed to be informative and fun. Children learn about positive health behaviours, such as healthy eating and regular exercise, while teachers and parents can also benefit from key cancer prevention messages.

“Developing children’s attitudes at a young age when they are most receptive towards a variety of healthy foods, combined with regular exercise through active play, can also help improve their concentration and sleeping patterns as well as reduce their future risk of cancer.

“Each tailor-made programme also explains how to integrate these messages into children’s learning. It supports the Northern Ireland curriculum and can be used to complement teaching in areas such as language and literacy, personal development and mutual understanding.”

Education Minister John O’Dowd said: “I welcome any information that helps our children and young people make healthy food choices and realise the importance of regular physical activity. Exercise coupled with a healthy, balanced diet aids children’s ability to concentrate and focus in class, leading to improved educational outcomes and long term life chances.”

SHEP includes activities for nursery school children, interactive storytelling about Genevieve the Goat for P1 and P2 focusing on healthy eating and exercise, a Fit Factor challenge for P3 and P4, Sun Scientists for P5 and Smokebusters for P6 and P7 pupils.

Schools are invited to sign up for the whole package or any one element of the Programme by contacting Clare Smith at Cancer Focus on 028 9068 0736 or email claresmith@cancerfocusni.org. 

For further information on Cancer Focus click on www.cancerfocusni.org or you can follow us on Facebook or Twitter @cancerfocusNI

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For further information please contact:

                                                                                                      Pauline Wylie, PR & Events Manager, Cancer Focus on

                                                                                                                       028 9066 3281 / 07810 371118    or

Marie Foy, PR & Events Officer, Cancer Focus on

028 9066 3281 / 07736 358 692

Notes to Editors:

Cancer Focus’s Schools Health Education Package includes:

Nursery children: a Cancer Focus volunteer storyteller visits nursery schools to read ‘Starring Genevieve’, a unique story about one goat’s desire to be healthy.

P1 and P2: Genevieve the goat will visit schools and meet children to motivate them to be healthy and active. Children will read a story, take part in a quiz, play games and participate in physical activity.

P3 and P4: Fit Factor (in association with Lidl Northern Ireland) - a chance to win £4,000 worth of sports equipment for your school by completing healthy eating, physical activity, self-expressing and creativity tasks and submit your class’s creative project.

P5: The Sun Scientist project teaches children the importance in covering up in the sun to prevent sun damage using practical experiments.

P6 and P7: Smokebusters – Pupils will become members of the Smokebusters Club which aims to equip pupils with the skills necessary to refuse that crucial first cigarette, especially during the transition to Year 8.