A programme aimed at supporting healthy lifestyles in communities across South Birmingham is celebrating a successful year.
Health for Life in the Community is part of a £3.1 million five year programme taking place in primary and secondary schools and across the community in South Birmingham. Supporting activities which engage people in growing food, healthy eating, cooking, and physical activity, Health for Life in the community is delivered by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and funded by the Mondelēz International Foundation.
Over the past year, Health for Life in the Community has focused its activities around Weoley Castle and Northfield, delivering 146 ‘green gym’ sessions and healthy eating workshops, and distributing 20,000 seed packs and food growing guides to local residents, encouraging them to grow their own. Employees from Mondelēz International have also been involved with supporting the development of the programme’s first dedicated ‘green gym’ in Weoley Castle; an area which can be used by the local community to grow fruit and vegetables, and encourage people to get outdoors and take part in physical activity.
Kelly Farrell, Community Affairs Manager at Mondelēz International, said: “We’re extremely proud of how Health for Life in the community has progressed over the last year. Not only were we able to develop an award winning show garden for Gardeners World 2013, which is now being used as the city’s first green gym, we’ve also been able to involve local people in establishing their own community allotment.”
Chris Blythe, Health for Life in the community programme manager at TCV, added: “We are spreading our activities further. The development of a second community allotment site is underway at Manor Farm Park and we have plans for further sites to involve residents in, Kings Norton, Longbridge and Bournville. We want to reach out to as many people as possible and we’ve recently launched our fruit and vegetable phone app which will provide an insight into growing for those looking to get involved for the first time.”
It’s hoped that over five years, the programme will reach around 60,000 pupils, parents and school staff and 50,000 households in South Birmingham. For more information about Health for Life in the Community please contact Chris Blythe at c.blythe@tcv.co.uk.