Val Billingham at the BHF

BHF Kids' and Schools' Catalogue

2010-03-09T14:34:00Z

The new 2010 Kids’ and schools' catalogue is now available to order at http://www.bhf.org.uk/publications.aspx. The catalogue features all the resources we have available for 3 - 18 year olds, covering topics such as English, physical activity, science and congenital heart disease.

All our teachers’ packs, CD ROMs, books and activity sheets are all curriculum-based and can be used in all 4 UK nations. Our fun, interactive and easy to use resources can be ordered by anyone working with young people.

New to the catalogue this year is our bereavement resource for 7 – 11 year olds, The small creature, cbhf monster sticker sheet, Healthy Living kit for secondary schools, a new anti smoking resource and much more.

The order code is G66.

Please recycle any copies of the 2009 version that you have and order the new up-to-date version.

New £100,000 Hearty Lives Bristol programme to get young families active and tackle childhood obesity

2010-03-01T11:01:00Z

Diverse interests are preventing families from being active together and breeding couch potato family lives instead, according to new research carried out by the University of Bristol and funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) (1).

While parents in the study rated physical activity as a family as very important to family life, most did little or none during the week because of differing interests, bad weather and busy lives. Instead, Professor Janice Thompson and her team in the Department of Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences found that family time was usually spent eating together, watching TV, or playing video and board games.

To help young families in Bristol to be more active together, the BHF has launched its new £100,000 Hearty Lives Bristol programme as part of a major UK-wide initiative.

Working in partnership with NHS Bristol and Bristol Council, the Hearty Lives team will work with children’s centres in deprived areas of the city to help families eat more healthily and play together.

Hearty Lives Bristol will be the BHF’s first Hearty Lives programme in the South West of England, and is part of a nationwide programme to reduce inequalities in heart disease.

At present, a quarter of children in Bristol are overweight or obese by the time they reach the first year of primary school (2), putting them at future risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer.

Working with 10 Chidren’s Centres throughout Bristol, Hearty Lives Bristol will train staff to provide free family activity classes, and will help to develop active travel options to encourage families to walk and cycle to the centres.

The programme is also providing healthy cooking classes including a number of themed classes, such as one for Christmas and one on South Asian food.

BHF Community Development Coordinator Sue Pritchard said: “Our research shows that parents really want to be active as a family, but busy family lives can make it tough for them. We hope that Hearty Lives Bristol will help to give young families a head start by enhancing family bonds and keeping them happy and healthy.”

The research also found that lack of access to facilities and transportation was a barrier to family activity, particularly for those in low-income households.

Dr Hugh Annett, Bristol Director of Public Health said: “We hope that good intentions can be changed into action by basing this programme in the community. We hope to make it easier for parents to have a better but realistic chance of being active as a family which is a great benefit for health and family life.”

Councillor Bev Knott, Bristol City Council’s cabinet member for care and neighbourhoods added: “We are pleased to support this initiative, which promotes a healthy lifestyle, with a balanced diet and regular exercise for those families in our communities who are most at risk.”

In the study, Professor Thompson also found that parents perceived a range of benefits of regular physical activity on top of physical fitness. These included increased parent-child communication, spending time together, enjoyment, enhanced mental health and weight control.

Professor Thompson said: “Being physically active as a family can help you to enjoy life together, as well as improve your health and wellbeing. We look forward to more programmes such as Hearty Lives Bristol being made available to give busy families a helping hand.”

Hearty Lives Bristol will run for three years, and is one of 14 Hearty Lives programmes based throughout the UK. The programmes will tackle a range of diverse issues related to heart disease according to local needs.

The BHF will also look to fund a further Hearty Lives programme in the South West of England in 2010.

Notes

(1) Physically active families – de-bunking the myth? A qualitative study of family participation in physical activity, J L Thompson et al, Department of Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol

(2) National Child Measurement Programme 2008/09

BHF resources bulletin

2010-02-25T09:00:00Z

To order any publications please visit our website bhf.org.uk/publications or call the

BHF orderline on 0870 600 6566 or email orderline@bhf.org.

Inherited Heart Conditions

Produced in partnership with the Cardiomyopathy Association, this is the fifth booklet in the Inherited Heart Conditions series. This booklet is one of three dealing with cardiomyopathies. It explains the condition Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, the possible causes and treatment of the condition and how it might be passed on through families. Stock code: M111E

BHF Card!

The BHF card is for young people between 13 and 19 who have an ongoing heart condition. Filled out by a healthcare professional, it can be stored in a wallet or purse and used at times when the cardholders’ heart condition is questioned or forgotten. The BHF card proves, with the authority of a cardiac specialist and the BHF that the cardholder has an ongoing heart condition and may require special consideration. The BHF card is part of the BHF's meet@teenheart programme for teenagers with heart conditions. NB: The BHF card is only available to order by healthcare professionals. Stock code: G486

BHF Card Poster

A promotional poster for the BHF card. The poster can be displayed where young people with heart conditions will see them i.e. waiting areas, ECHO rooms, consultation rooms. Stock code: G488

Getting in the swim for National Heart Month

2010-02-17T14:46:00Z

Ponds Forge gave bathers the chance to swim in red water as part of the BHF’s National Heart Month. The event was just one of the activities planned by Sheffield International Venues, which manages Ponds Forge, to raise awareness of heart disease and other conditions during the month of February.

Lucy Annandale, a lifestyle consultant at Ponds Forge’s Fitness Unlimited gym, who is coordinating the events, said: “We are looking forward to being involved in all the activities. It’s not every day you get to swim in a red swimming pool.

“Because the stunt is happening on the first day of the school holidays, we wanted to encourage kids to come down as well to experience something unique. The dye is completely safe and won’t stain skin or swimwear.”

Other events during the month will include turning Ponds Forge red by putting red films on the lights, displaying donation boxes and selling heart-shaped cookies. All proceeds will go the BHF.

Lauren Mallinson, Fundraising Volunteer Manager for the BHF in Sheffield said: “I am delighted that Ponds Forge is supporting our Red for Heart campaign to raise awareness about heart disease and funds for the British Heart Foundation during National Heart Month.

“I hope other local businesses and organisations will join in the fun, especially on National Wear Red Day on February 26.”

On National Red Wear Day, staff at Ponds Forge will pay a donation to wear red and a guess the name of the super hero competition will run in the office.