THE IMPORTANCE of healthy eating is being stressed to youngsters across the district in a playful way.
Stratford District Council and South Warwickshire Dietetic Service are working with Stratford College Performing Arts’
Department on a project to deliver messages to primary school pupils about the need to eat healthily and take regular exercise.
Performing Arts students from the Alcester Road college have created different shows and will be visiting 40 schools – spreading the message to some 10,000 pupils – as part of this year’s Fit for Life Road Show over the next week.
There is increasing national concern over the rising levels of obesity in children because of a poor diet and lack of physical activity.
And the national award winning programme – now in its 16th year – not only provides valuable work experience opportunities for students, who would otherwise find it difficult to secure individual commissions, but it also makes a significant contribution towards the college attaining a Grade 1 status in performing arts.
With one out of every five children aged four to five and almost one in every three children aged ten to 11 in Warwickshire classified as overweight or obese, district council spokesman Coun Maurice Howse said the team-up would help highlight the importance of healthy eating and regular exercise to children in a fun and informative way.
He added: “This project aims to convey crucial information to children and through them to their parents and carers.
“The programme also provides important workplace experience for the performing arts students involved, who would find it difficult to secure individual work experience placements.”
