Fit and Fed is a national StreetGames initiative which seeks to counter the triple inequalities of holiday hunger, physical inactivity and social isolation, facing some of the country’s most disadvantaged children aged 8-11.
Local activation of this national campaign has involved the creation of a Hertfordshire specific programme which focuses on healthy eating, sport and physical activity and improved literacy –Fit, Fed and Read.
Those youngsters who attended the programme, were treated to a nutritious hot meal, provided by Hertfordshire Catering Ltd (HCL), the main supplier of school meals in the county. HCL also delivered sessions where the children learned about healthy eating choices and could concoct some exotic fruit flavoured drinks on the very popular smoothie bikes.
Participants also enjoyed a range of physical activity programmes and fun literacy sessions – including Horrible Histories – coordinated by Hertfordshire Libraries.
The programme, which is the brainchild of HSP Deputy Director, Jane Shewring and Herts Fire and Rescue Service Area Commander Steve Holton, has been a rip-roaring success and the positive feedback from both the young participants and their parents and carers has been extremely positive.
Running the programmes at the local fire stations, with the involvement of fire service personnel has been an enormous boost to the scheme as they provide safe, indoor and outdoor activity spaces, as well as respected role models. Some of the firefighters got involved in programme delivery, including reading to the young participants and organising some of the physical activity and sport sessions, and skilfully used the engagement to land some key messages around fire safety to those young people involved.
According to Shewring, that was one of the main reasons for the success of the programme:
“The recent pilots at both Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield Fire Station have been a huge success and an example of inter-agency partnership working at its very best. We are indebted to Steve Holton and his colleagues for the way that they have enthusiastically embraced this programme and their contribution has been nothing short of outstanding.
“I must place on record too our sincere thanks to HCL and their suppliers and the Hertfordshire Library Service, as without their generous support, that success would not have been possible.
“Laird Budge and his colleagues from Hertfordshire Footballing Futures provided an interesting physical activity programme and the Hertfordshire Sports Village made available their superb facilities for the programme’s away days, and provided T-Shirts for each of the participants.
“The success of this programme has been such, we are now making plans to roll out the programme across Hertfordshire over the summer holidays”.
Will Slemmings, lead HSP officer on the Fit, Fed and Read programme said:
“The recent programme was an absolute delight to be involved with. Having only been with the Herts Sports Partnership for a short time, I have been hugely impressed at how key agencies have come together to provide such a fantastic programme, aimed at improving the life chances and raising the aspirations of our young people. It is clear from the parental feedback, that in just a very short time, this programme has made a real difference”.