News
New 'Healthier Wales' Partnership Launched with Hybu Cig Cymru
29/06/2023 00:00, In Blog /
We are delighted to share Welsh Athletics has partnered with Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) in the name of highlighting the importance of a healthy lifestyle to children across Wales.
Alongside HCC and Commonwealth Games athletes, we will be going on a school road trip teaching pupils across Wales about the importance of a healthy and balanced diet and physical activity and exercise.
We will be visiting schools in Anglesey, Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taf in the summer term ahead of pupils breaking up for the summer holidays.
During each visit Commonwealth Games athletes, Hannah Brier, Aled Davies and Osian Jones will be hosting a Q&A session with pupils where they will share their journeys and explain how a healthy diet and regular exercise has played a vital role in their lives. They will also join pupils in a fun cooking demonstration where they will get to cook the athlete’s favourite recipe and finish the day with a run, jump and throw physical activity session.
According to the Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales report, around 25% of children in Wales start school obese. 1 in 5 children leave primary school obese, and nutritional status in adolescents is poor. In addition, the School Sports Survey 2022 revealed 36% of pupils reported ‘no frequent participation’ in organised sport outside of the curriculum – an 8% increase since 2018.
CEO of Welsh Athletics, James Williams shared:
Recent surveys in Wales have highlighted the demand for physical activity and the need to reduce obesity levels in young people across Wales. In partnership with HCC, we hope to educate more children on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and our school road trip is a positive step on this journey.
HCC’s Consumer Executive, Elwen Roberts explained:
We are delighted to be working with Welsh Athletics on this important initiative. Ensuring that children understand food and nutrition is vital to helping them lead healthy lives. Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef are nutritionally dense and can play a really important role in a healthy diet and lifestyle.
The initiative will be launched at the Cardiff International Stadium on Saturday 1 July during the Welsh Schools National Track & Field Championships. The partnership will also be highlighted during the Royal Welsh Show this July. Joining the launch at both national events will be Commonwealth Games and Olympic athlete, Adele Nicoll.
Elite Athlete, Adele Nicoll reacted:
I am delighted to support this fantastic initiative and help promote the importance of a healthy lifestyle from a young age. Nutrition and exercise have played a vital part in my life. They have allowed me to enter a world of Professional sport which has in turn helped to establish my identity. Being educated on both nutrition and exercise has provided me with the tools to unlock another level to life and have both helped me massively to manage my struggles.
Keep up-to-date with the school road trip via our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter pages.