Category: Policy

Scottish Grocer's Federation Healthyliving Programme expansion

A joint £1.3 million investment from the Scottish Government and retailers to promote healthier food options in convenience stores has recently been announced.

The Scottish Government plans to invest £679,000 over three years to extend the Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) Healthyliving Programme, matched by a £650,000 investment from retailers.

The Healthyliving Programme provides shops with the means to display - including chillers and shelving - and promote fresh, healthy produce.

To read the Scottish Government press release in full visit www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/02/26170030

 

Preventing Overweight and Obesity: A Route Map Towards Healthy Weight

On 22 February the Scottish Government launched a long-term obesity strategy, Preventing Overweight and Obesity: A Route Map Towards Healthy Weight.

The Route Map identired four key areas in which action is likely to have the greatest effect - reducing demand for and consumption of excessive amounts of high calorie foods and drinks; increasing opportunities for uptake of walking, cycling and other physical activity; establishing life-long healthy habits in children; and increasing the responsibility of organisations for the health and wellbeing of their employees.

A joint leadership group will be set up to implement the Route Map, and a national event in 2010 will allow stakeholders from all sectors an opportunity to be involved in helping shape actions that come out of the policies identified in the Route Map.

Further information is available from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/02/22095151

Schools to benefit from Recipe for Success

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, Richard Lochhead, recently unveiled plans by the Scottish Government to teach children and young people about  the supply chain and where food comes from as well as how it benefits their health, the economy and the environment. 

Activities will include:

- food and farming visits for 1800 primary school pupils
- cooking demos for 1000 pupils at the Royal Highland Show
- farmers' market schools pilot
- activities to educate pupils about the food industry and considering it as a career choice

To read more about the plans visit www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/02/19112835

 



National Food and Drink Policy for Scotland

Richard Lochhead,  Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary, unveiled 'Recipe for Success' - setting out the next steps for the national food and drink policy - this morning at the Royal Highland Show.
 
It sets out steps to bring together key issues of health and environmental sustainability with business and community needs, and stresses the importance of strengthening community food and health initiatives.
 
Recipe for Success can be accessed here http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/25133322/0
 
The Leadership Forum report can be accessed here

Healthy Weight communities

Public Health Minister Shona Robison has launched a trial programme to bring whole communities, towns or cities together to eat more healthily and be more active in addressing childhood obesity.

Eight sites will take part in the programme: Dundee, Dumfries, SW Glasgow, North and East Ayrshire, West Lothian, North Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire.

This trial has been inspired by a French programme known as EPODE (Preventing Childhood Obesity Together) which achieved a 25% reduction in obesity in participating areas.

To read more visit  www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/05/28093241
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/8071679.stm

 

Community Empowerment Plan

The Scottish Government has launched its community empowerment action plan, which builds on its joint statement with CoSLA on community empowerment in 2008.
The action plan sets out a range of new and practical actions that underpin the process of community empowerment. New initiatives include a participatory budgeting pilot and an investment in the community engagement database -VOiCE.
www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/03/20155113/0
 

Healthy Start for kids at school

Pilot projects aimed at improving children's health by providing targeted health-related services at school were unveiled yesterday by the Scottish Government as the first Equally Well implementation plan was published.

The first children's health and wellbeing support pilot gets underway in South Ayrshire in January, followed by others in Moray, West Lothian and Clackmannanshire.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison also announced the roll out of Keep Well checks - which aim to identify people at risk of heart disease, diabetes or strokes - to more parts of Scotland.

The plan highlights progress made to date to implement the recommendations of Equally Well and outlines what further progress is expected over the next two years.

The full press release is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/12/11100653

 

 

 

Equally Well

Equally Well, the report of the ministerial task force on health inequalities was launched last week by Minister for Public Health, Shona Robison.

The report highlights the £1.78 billion being spent on tackling health inequalities over the next three years but recommends that this resource can deliver better outcomes by re-designing public services. This is backed by £15 million of new money to achieve this aim.

More information is available from www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/06/19155721

Review of the Scottish Diet Action Plan

The review of the Scottish Diet Action Plan has now been completed by a distinguished panel, chaired by Prof Tim Lang.

Why not give your opinion of the review, whether it reflects your impressions, concerns, or aspirations, on our new discussion forum?

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