LOCAL cancer charity, Action Cancer is bringing a bright new-look health education programme to Northern Irish schools from this September.  Sponsored by independent retail group Centra the new programmes are filled with smart ideas that improve kid’s health and fitness levels.
 
Action Cancer’s Health Action team have built on years of experience of working in schools having reached almost 500,000 children since 2003. The new programmes support kids to learn through play, by engaging in games and team based physical activities. Having fun is a really important aspect of learning for children, the more relaxed they are the more information they retain. Teachers and parents resources have also been produced so that this learning can be supported and sustained in the class room and at home.
 
The two enhanced programmes have been designed to reflect the NI Curriculum for KS1 and KS2 targeting children from nursery to P3 and from P4 to P7.
Nursery – P3 pupils are being recruited to help Health Action heroes Mambo and Jazz on their quest to save the Magical Kingdom from the unhealthy villains, Fizzy Sherbot, Lazy Lisa, Mr Blister and the Terrible Tar Jar. 
 
P4-P7 pupils will work in teams to explore how they can make healthy lifestyle choices. Interactive models such as the ‘pigs lungs’ and the ‘organ tunic’ will be used in workshops to demonstrate the effects of unhealthy choices. Fun games and physical activity will be incorporated into each session.
 
Centra Brand Manager, Nikki McDowell said: “Centra retailers are proud to support Action Cancer as it provides life-saving work in schools through this fun and exciting new health programme, supporting local communities across Northern Ireland.”
 
Action Cancer’s Health Action programme has been brought to more than 1,000 nurseries, schools and colleges, reaching almost 500,000 children across Northern Ireland and has received £1 million of fundraising by Centra stores and Musgrave NI staff.

Helping to launch the new programmes is ‘teacher’ Emily McDowell (7) along with Action Cancer’s Health Promotion Officer Nikki Sturgeon, Centra Brand Manager Nikki McDowell and ‘pupil’ Jessica McDowell (5).