Shropshire Council shortlisted for prestigious national award

From left to right: Laura Sheldon, Member of Youth Parliament and Young Health Champion; Deniz Guldren, Young Health Champion and Georgia Kelly, Deputy Member of Youth Parliament.

Shropshire Council’s Public Health curriculum work with primary schools has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

The Pamela Sheridan Award for innovation recognises pioneering approaches to relationships, sex and wellbeing education.

Shropshire’s Respect Yourself Eat Better, Move More, Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) programme supports schools to deliver age appropriate, up to date lessons to help pupils keep themselves healthy, happy and safe. The programme provides lesson plans, resources and works with parents and school staff so that they feel confident about how to address health issues in a positive and coordinated way.

Councillor Karen Calder, Cabinet Member for Public Health at Shropshire Council said;

““Being a finalist this year confirms that Shropshire is continuing to provide the very best practice for our children and young people. We are leading the way nationally and are building on our previous success when we won the award in 2012 for our Respect Yourself Relationship and Sex Education work for year 6 to 11.”

Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services added;

“We take our responsibility to safeguard our children seriously, Relationship and Sex Education is vital to ensure they are protected.”

Professor Rod Thomson, Director for Public Health said:

“This work contributes directly to corporate priorities and departmental objectives for safeguarding. It is part of our wider prevention strategy related to obesity, domestic abuse and mental health and wellbeing.

Alice Cruttwell Public Health curriculum advisor added;

“It is estimated that over 70% of Shropshire primaries are delivering or planning to use the resources. The programme has been developed in consultation with schools; they have welcomed the support provided. Heads, governors, teaching and non-teaching staff have received training and parents have been involved in meetings across the County.”

Laura Sheldon, MYP and Young Health Champion

“Our priority this year is emotional health and happiness and it’s great to hear that the Respect Yourself: Eat Better, Move More, and RSE has been shortlisted for this award. We are very proud and support this programme as it helps children feed good about themselves and their bodies.”

Greg Smallbone, Headteacher at Whitchurch C of E Infant and Nursery school commented;

“We have been involved in developing and piloting this programme, it provides guidance, lesson plans and resources on important health issues. We believe this compliments our school ethos and philosophy to provide a broad and balanced curriculum. We believe it is of great benefit and recommend it to all schools to support the development and achievement of the whole child. We are proud and excited to have been asked to be involved in developing and piloting this programme.”

Helen Spreadborough, Headteacher at Clunbury CE Primary School added;

“We are delighted to hear that Shropshire’s Respect Yourself Eat Better, Move More, RSE programme has been shortlisted for the award. Being involved in the development of the programme has further enabled our school’s commitment to protect and promote the health and well-being of our children.”

The Pamela Sheridan Award is part of the UK Sexual Health Awards, organised by charities Brook and the Family Planning Association (FPA).  For more information about the award visit is www.uksexualhealthawards.org.uk or follow on twitter @SHUKAwards.

The winner will be announced in March 2015.

To find out more about Shropshire’s Respect Yourself Eat Better, Move More, Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) programme visit www.healthyshropshire.co.uk or click here