Health and Wellbeing Cue Cards for use with Young People

7 February 2018

The Northern Obesity Partnership along with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Public health Agency and Local Councils have developed a range of Health Message Cue Cards containing eight key health and well-being messages relevant to the needs of young people.

The cue cards have been developed to support school and community based sport and physical activity programmes. As part of a pilot programme, the cue cards have been  initially aimed at sports coaches working with young people aged 11-16 and enable the coaches to talk to young people about the broader aspects of what it means to live a healthy lifestyle rather than focusing solely on physical activity or healthy eating in isolation.

They provide up-to-date, evidence based information focused around three broad health and well-being themes for 11-18 year olds; physical activity, nutrition, and stress & relaxation to enable young people to make healthier lifestyle choices.  The messages each take around 10 minutes to deliver and are designed to work with different programmes to help make every contact count and aspire young people to make healthier choices now and for their futures.

Sabrina Lynn, Northern Health and Social Care Trust and Northern Obesity Partnership Coordinator, “We have all heard about the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet and living a physically active lifestyle but what many people are not yet aware of is that stress, poor sleep, inactivity and the ever increasing amount of time we spend in front of screens (phones, computers, tablets etc.) is having a negative impact on our physical and emotional health and wellbeing.  This resource recognises that these themes inter-relate and when addressed collectively could have a greater impact on the health and wellbeing behaviours and choices of young people both now and for the future.”

Damian McAfee, Sport and Well-being Development Manager, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said, “Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Councils Sport & Well-being Department were very happy to work in conjunction with the Northern Obesity Partnership on the initial pilot for the Year 8 Project. Our Every Body Active 2020 Coaches provided the physical activity element within these sessions. The associated nutritional awareness training and the addition of the designated cue cards will enable our coaches to use this holistic approach to promote the merits of pursuing an active, healthy lifestyle, the link to nutrition and raise awareness around the concept of well-being”.

Matt McDowell, Head of Leisure, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, “Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council continue to work closely with the Northern Obesity Partnership, and are delighted to be able to utilise this fantastic resource within our many sport and activity programmes that take place throughout the Borough”.

Sports coaches completed a half day training Nutrition Awareness for Children and Young People, developed by the Northern Obesity Partnership, to equip them in the delivery of these messages and the promotion of a holistic view of health and well-being.
This project is supported by the Public Health Agency. For more information visit the following websites;

www.northerntrust.hscni.net
www.choosetolivebetter.com
www.publichealth.hscni.net
www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

7th February 2018