The Carmarthenshire Play Learn and Grow Healthy project, (based in Ammanford/Carmarthen/Llanelli/Newcastle Emlyn), is a 3-year ‘Healthy Friends’ theme project, working primarily with children aged 7/8 and 10/11 through a ‘buddying’ project, and extending to reach younger children and their families from 2 upwards.
The project is aimed at raising awareness of the value of physical activity/healthy eating and introduce ideas for ‘buddying’ in a traditionally non-educational environment. Often work in this area is focused on health programmes delivered through schools, however, this project will provide ‘learning through play’. Activity will predominately focus on ‘buddying’ with junior aged children attending out of school childcare clubs and childminders. Training and support will be given to all children volunteering to become ‘buddies’
The project is funded with £425,797 from the Big Lottery Fund’s (BIG) Way of Life (WOL) initiative, which aims to develop new and innovative ways of promoting healthy eating, activity and play among children through projects that involve the whole family.
Childhood obesity has been one of the most worrying health trends in Wales over the last decade, with more children overweight than ever before. WOL aims to combat childhood obesity by using three different models, which the successful projects are using to deliver the programme.
Materials/resources/games produced to support the activities, will be developed in phases by the project and piloted at each stage with the children to ensure that the children ‘grow’ alongside the materials prior to these being made available to a wider audience. The final resource/pack or guide will be child/parent/playworker friendly.
In addition to the ‘buddying’ element with older children, some resources will be trialled with younger/pre-school children. This will ensure that the messages and associated resources reach a wider community at an earlier stage and that children, families and childcare workers become familiar with the content. The impact of the project will be evaluated with the children, parents and childcare workers.
The Project Partners, Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids' Clubs, Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin and Wales Pre-school Providers Association have a history of working successfully together. They have representation within Local Authorities on the Children and Young People’s Partnerships and have links with the Health, Social Care and Well-being Partnership with all relevant aspects of the Education Department, Local Health Board and N.H.S Trust.
An Advisory Group made up of a number of relevant Carmarthenshire based organisations will meet regularly to support the progress of the project.
