HUNDREDS of schoolchildren in Sheffield are set to be given free fruit and vegetables at school in an attempt to curb rising obesity levels in the city.
Year 7 pupils at Westfield, City and Sheffield Park Academy schools will take part in the pilot scheme and, if it proves successful, it will be rolled out across a further 27 schools over the next two years.
The scheme is part of Sheffield's "heal
thy towns" initiative, which will see almost £500,000 spent on improving health in the city before March 2011.
Latest statistics for 2007/8 show that 17.5 per cent of Year 6 children in Sheffield are obese – which is up from 14.8 per cent in 2006/7. In total, £175,000 is to be spent on improving health in Sheffield's schools during the 2008/9 financial year.
As well as giving out free fruit and vegetables in an attempt to get more children hitting their "five a day" target, the money will also be spent on developing a "stay on site" policy in secondary schools to prevent children from buying unhealthy snacks . Nutrition, cookery and gardening clubs will be set up.
Healthy schools co-ordinator for NHS Sheffield Amy Plant said: "Currently free fruit is offered to children in the city aged four to six and the scheme has worked to encourage young people to eat fruit and vegetables as part of a balanced diet during their school lives, helping them to develop healthy eating habits for the rest of their lives."
The free fruit and vegetable scheme is being aimed at Year 7 pupils as statistics show children eat less fruit and vegetables when they transfer from primary to secondary school.
Sheffield is one of nine areas nationwide and one of only two in Yorkshire to receive funding under the the Government healthy towns scheme, which aims to get people to live more active lifestyles and eat better food.
Figures show people in Sheffield are the fattest and most inactive in England's eight biggest cities outside London, with 22 per cent of adults obese and 34 per cent overweight.
As well as focusing on schoolchildren, the scheme also aims to help women breastfeed and encourage people to make the most of the city's green spaces.
Volunteers will be appointed as "community health champions", to encourage people to eat more healthily and increase their levels of physical activity.
Sheffield Council cabinet member for children's services and lifelong learning Coun Andrew Sangar said: "Childhood obesity is a problem that is affecting the whole country, not just here in Sheffield.
"But we need to make sure we are doing what we can in this city to make our children as healthy as possible and personally speaking I think this is a fantastic way forward."
Coun Sangar said the healthy towns programme was taking some "fantastic and innovative measures" to address issues of obesity in the city. "There are many more exciting initiatives to come from this programme. Improving children's health is one of Sheffield Council's key priorities."
A report on the healthy towns programme will go before the council's cabinet committee at 2pm on Wednesday, May 27, at Sheffield Town Hall.
The other areas to be taking part in the scheme are Calderdale, Manchester, Tewksbury, Thetford, Dudley, Tower Hamlets, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth.
