NHS team goes back to the classroom on healthy living

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s health integration team in Barnsley have gone back to school as part of a health event at Queens Road Academy.

The event, which involved several local organisations from across Barnsley, aimed to raise awareness of the different health services available to families and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Activities and information on offer to pupils included blood pressure tests, healthy food recipes and smoothie-making.

The health integration team, which is part of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, provide information and guidance for ethnic minorities and new overseas arrivals to help them access local health services. The team also offer health assessments and are the tuberculosis service for people in Barnsley.

The team organised the event with Queens Road Academy in Barnsley as 25% of pupils have English as an additional language. Lyn Ward, specialist nurse for the health integration team said, “It’s important that we work with schools to help pupils learn about the importance of health and wellbeing and making healthy, informed choices in life.

“The health event involved lots of different organisations and was a great way of promoting local services. The school has really got on board with what we’re trying to achieve – we received some fantastic feedback and really hope that the pupils go home and talk to their family about what they’ve learned.”

Simon Kaufman, head teacher at Queens Road Academy, added, “We were really keen to work alongside the health integration team. Schools are always striving for children to achieve academic success but it’s equally as important to make sure they are happy and healthy as this gets the best results.”