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Summer 2005 Newsletter summary |
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NL 11 Summer2005
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Welcome to all our readers. Our thanks to those who continue to return survey forms and interesting letters in this our sixth year. This is our first newsletter this year.
To increase public participation and our effectiveness, WFA has initiated a more open and direct method of working with others through our public events programme. This to influence the policy development process at local and national levels, which we hope will bring results. Comments and contributions regarding future inquiry themes in collaborative inquiry are welcomed.
Public participation means getting and using information before important policy decisions are made behind closed doors, not after. We believe that participation by academics, citizens and professionals contributing to events, someone filling in a survey form at a club, or sending a letter from home, or pupils participating in their Schools Council, are all important strands to getting our food policy right in Wales and achieving better value in public service delivery.
Let us emulate other small countries such as Finland and Scotland by adopting public participation to get results.
A new venture - a 'School Citizens Jury' - is introduced at our 4th Welsh Youth Food Assembly. We hope that this will develop and grow. Any schools, parents, governors and others wishing to get involved please contact us.
An older venture from 1999 was, and is seeking change in the National Curriculum on which we can report no progress. The National Curriculum is being currently reviewed. If you are as concerned as we are, take action now by raising this issue with Assembly Members. To make a reality of informed choice we need to empower pupils with knowledge from pre-school to A level.
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NL 11 Summer2005
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(1)'Feed Me Better'
6th July 2005 Welsh Youth Food Assembly, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay. With well over a hundred entrants, and more coming in by the day, 60 pupils from 15 schools express their views on Jamie Oliver's controversial programme by writing a letter to Jamie saying what impact they think it will have on school meals and also on the health of pupils.
(2) Future of Welsh Food Policy 8th July 2005, 2 - 4pm. Implications of 'fast-track' Welsh legislation White Paper on future governance of Wales - a Joint Cardiff Law School/ Welsh Food Alliance Seminar.
'Are You Being Served'
Nutrition for the over 65s in Wales - Food Inquiry
(3) 2nd September 2005, 10 am -1pm, Cardiff. (4) 23rd September 2005, 10 am -1pm,Colwyn Bay. School Nutrition: Round Table discussion
(5) 2nd September 2005, 1.30 - 4.15 pm, Cardiff. (6) 23rd September 2005, 1.30 - 4.15 pm, Colwyn Bay. All are no cost events. More details inside. Write to WFA - see address below. www.Welshfoodalliance.org.uk or e-mail
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quoting the bracket number of the event to reserve your place. Priority given to reservations. We thank the National Assembly for Wales, the Wales Centre for Health, the Open University and Colwyn Bay Town Council for providing free accommodation that has enabled us to carry out our work. |
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Education for the 21st Century |
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School meals alone are important but they are not the whole story. Knowledge is. We empower pupils with knowledge from pre-school to A level. They will then be able to decide for themselves how food and fitness can be achieved.
The Assembly Food and Fitness 'Action Plan for Children and Young People' is to be published after we go to print (see page 4). If as previously they consider that healthy living and food can be contained and fragmented across 'Design and Technology', 'Personal Social Education', and 'Science' then they are completely wrong*. It was wrong in 2001, and we believe it is increasingly wrong with the growing obesity epidemic.
This limited view is also reflected in the approach to choice and healthy food options elsewhere (see Children, Young People and Maternity Services report at page 4). Healthy food needs to be mainstreamed and viewed as a 'good option'. There appears to be a lack of urgency and understanding about how we tackle the growing obesity epidemic - vividly captured in a recent House of Commons Health Select Committee Report.
In contrast, following the August 2004 Food Education Inquiry, we are aware that the Association of Directors of Education in Wales Quality Assurance Group wholeheartedly supports the introduction of a new compulsory stand alone subject area for Key Stages 1 - 3. This will deliver nutrition, healthy eating and food safety, and reintroduce basic food handling skills in a domestic context using raw ingredients, rather than train pupils to assemble already processed food in an industrial context.
In 2004 an International Obesity Taskforce report emphasised that obesity requires multi faceted solutions from all sectors of society. Education has a key role. In the 21st century what better way to meet the needs of learners whilst preparing pupils for the responsibilities, opportunities, and experiences of adult life? We have made this case for over six years. Do we need to await another review in 2013 to bring about this change?
* 'Review of the school curriculum and assessment arrangements 5 -16', April 2004, ACCAC. 'Feed Me Better' 4th Welsh Youth Food Assembly
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We have had a huge response from pupils expressing their views on Jamie Oliver's controversial programme, by writing a letter to Jamie saying what impact they think it will have on school meals and also on the health of pupils.
To get pupils started we asked:
* What was your reaction to the programmes?
* Why did they have so much publicity and media coverage?
* Is this the way to change school meals?
* Could Jamie have achieved better results in some other way?
* If you were organising the 'school meals experience' what would you include and what results would you expect?
* Will the behaviour of pupils be affected? Why?
* Was Jamie's project a good idea and do you think it has affected what people eat at home?
Pupils are to be welcomed by Lord Elis - Thomas, AM Presiding officer, National Assembly for Wales. Jane Hutt, AM Minister for Children and Young People will speak and answer questions on the Food and Fitness ‘Action Plan for Children and Young People’. Many thanks to the Co-operative Group for again sponsoring this overall event. |
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At the Youth Food Assembly National Public Health Service registered Public Health Nutritionist: Teresa Owen, will set the scene for a 'School Citizens Jury' and get small groups of pupils working on their activities in commenting on the 'Action Plan'. Pupils will provide feedback to the Assembly on the 'youth' edition of the 'Action Plan' which the Assembly will then distribute to 10% of selected Welsh schools in September 2005. (See page 4)
Career Opportunities in Food 'Any Questions' - This Youth Food Assembly session takes place in the afternoon, and includes brief presentations from a dietician, hotelier, and environmental health and procurement officers.
Public Events Programme School Nutrition: Round Table discussion
Friday 2nd September 2005, Open University, Cathedral Road, Cardiff.
23rd September 2005, Town Hall, Rhiw Road, Colwyn Bay.
Aims: to raise the profile and awareness of school nutrition issues, and to harness the experience and expertise of interested parties, including pupils, in improving the nutrition of children, young people and families Further details on separate leaflet from WFA, local CVCs, Children in Wales or www.Welshfoodalliance.org.uk |
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Friday 8th July 2005, 2 – 4pm. Implications of 'fast-track' Welsh legislation White Paper on future governance of Wales are considered alongside proposed Bills for ‘Food Justice Strategy and ‘Childrens Food’. Joint Cardiff Law School/ Welsh Food Alliance Seminar. Venue: Cardiff Law School, Museum Place, Cathays Park, Cardiff.
Contributors include: David Lambert, a former Legal Adviser to the Presiding officer of the National Assembly for Wales. Marie Navarro, the editor of the Assembly funded Cardiff Law School website which sets out the powers of and the laws made by the National Assembly www.waleslegislation.org.uk. David Smith, NGO Food Policy Adviser. Please pre-book with WFA events at Welshfoodalliance.org.uk |
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Continuation of ‘Nutrition for the over 65s in Wales – Food Inquiry’
Friday 2nd September 2005, Open University, Cathedral Road, Cardiff.
Friday 23rd September 2005, Town Hall, Rhiw Road, Colwyn Bay.
Aims: an updating and discussion opportunity to develop and promote a nutrition strategy for older people in Wales.
Further details on separate leaflet from the Age Alliance, Age Concern, CVCs, WFA, or www.Welshfoodalliance.org.uk
The contributors on 2nd and 23rd September 2005 include: Lindsey Richardson, the Assembly Older Peoples National Service Framework manager attending both older people events. Teresa Owen National Public Health Service registered Public Health Nutritionist will be an expert witness for all events on 2nd and 23rd September, which will be facilitated by NGO food policy adviser David Smith.
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Older People Food Inquiry Questions |
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In January 2005 we wrote to Chief Executives of local authorities, NHS Trusts, local Health Boards, Directors of Social Services, Older Peoples Champions and Older Peoples Strategy Co-ordinators, with several key strategy and policy questions. We look forward to receiving responses. |
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Action Plan for Children and Young People: Food & Fitness |
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WFA made two separate detailed submissions around maternal nutrition, national curriculum and school meals, and requested a full public consultation. An ‘adult’ edition will be issued for consultation on 3rd July 2005. The Youth Food Assembly on 6th July will provide feedback on an Assembly pre-design ‘youth’ edition. The latter will then be issued for consultation to 10% of Welsh Schools from September. Contact the Assembly Health Promotion Department for both copies via (02920) 825111. WFA will pass on evidence gleaned from the Feed Me Better Welsh Youth Food Assembly and the two School Nutrition: Round Table discussion events. |
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Earlier Newsletters