I want to be healthy

Children and young people tell us they want to learn more about how to have a long healthy life, to do more sports, eat well and for their friends and family to not smoke and drink too much, or
do drugs.

Our priorities are for children and young people to:

• Make positive lifestyle choices
• Lead healthier lives
• Feel good about themselves
  
  

Helping children and young people to be healthy
Link to Children's Services information on the Sunderland City Council website

Your Health

This is a website especially designed for children and young people in Sunderland. There are also pages for parents and carers on a range of health issues.

Sunderland's Lifestyle, Activity and Food (LAF) Programme

Improve your family’s health and wellbeing with Sunderland’s LAF Programme ...

Even small lifestyle changes to family life can help improve the way you feel about yourself and provide you and your family with a better quality of life. The LAF Programme is for children and young people aged 5-15 years and can show you how to eat well, be more active, lose weight, feel healthier and be more confident.

It will help you learn about: fats and sugars, breakfasts and snacks, portion sizes and much more. It also includes activities such as non-competitive games, boxercise and food tasting.

What does it involve?
Families are referred to the free 8 week course by their GP or other healthcare professionals to take part in fun, interactive weekly sessions. Each session lasts for approximately 1 ½ hours and takes place in venues across the City. The sessions are full of fun activities to encourage all the family to get involved in healthier lifestyles, from making fruit wraps to sticky citrus chicken.

Young people who have been on the programme have said:

They don’t tell you what to do; they help you to understand why we should eat healthier and move more. Kate aged 11

I’m so much happier and actually enjoy going out shopping for new clothes with my friends. I’d definitely recommend the programme to anyone. Bethany aged 14

Contact the LAF Team on 0191 5614691 or go to see your GP or Practice Nurse and ask if they think the programme would be suitable for you.

Useful information on the Directgov website:

• Concerns about children and young people using drugs
• Concerns about children and young people drinking alcohol
• Healthy eating
• Healthy weight
• Sensible drinking
• Smoking

Healthy eating

Information from the Food Standards Agency website on healthy diet and health issues

Healthy living

Ideas and help on the 'Change 4 Life' website to give families a happier, healthier future

A guide to community and primary health services in Sunderland

More useful websites:

Counselling Directory - connecting you with professional support