Foyer Health

Drug & Alcohol Awareness session at Salford Foyer

2010-03-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

Dawn from the SMART team ran a Drugs & Alcohol Awareness session at Salford Foyer to make residents aware of the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Pink Day at Bridge Foyer

2010-03-12T06:20:00.000-08:00

On Friday 12th February Bridge Foyer held a Pink Day in aid of Cancer Research. The Foyer was decorated with pink streamers and balloons and there was a great atmosphere with all residents making a fantastic effort to get involved.

The day started with a special breakfast comprising of pink foods! This included fresh strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, pink apples, grapes, cherries, yoghurt and fruit juice.

Residents and staff dressed in pink and paid £1 for the privilege of doing so, and in the afternoon everyone made pink smoothies and watched a DVD of Grease. In total, £672.03 was raised!

Batley Foyer enjoy Asian & Chinese themed nights and a fancy dress Halloween party!

2010-03-10T07:17:00.000-08:00

Batley Foyer held an Asian themed night with traditional clothes for everyone to dress up in; creative henna tattoos; and a delicious Kurish meal cooked by a resident.

They also had a fancy dress Halloween party where they had apple bobbing and a horror film quiz.

Everyone is getting healthier at the Worthing Foyer

2010-02-25T07:13:00.000-08:00

The Worthing Foyer is buzzing with talk of running groups, smoothies and shiatsu!

Click here to read more.

Jupiter House Foyer Football Taster Session

2010-02-19T06:01:00.000-08:00

As part of the Foyer Health programme Foyers are funded to run taster sessions. Jupiter House Foyer decided to run a football session for their first physical activity taster session.

Falling between the same old cracks - Young Minds Dec 09 - Jan 10

2010-01-20T03:09:00.000-08:00

Dr Loren Treisman, Foyer Health Project Manager, comments on an article exploring the link between poor mental health and homelessness in the December - January issue of Young Minds.

Read the full article here.

Gateway Foyer Winter Fair

2010-01-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

Here are some photographs from Gateway Foyer's Christmas Fair held in December.

Loughborough Foyer Tenant Times September 2009

2009-10-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

Have a look through Loughborough Foyer's Tenant Times.

http://www.foyer.net/pdf/LoughboroughTenantTimesSept2009.pdf

Wolverhampton Foyer Go Ape for Foyer Health

2009-10-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Wolverhampton staff and residents went to Go Ape for a bit of adrenaline and excitement on the zip wires and climbing up trees as part of their Foyer Health Programme.

Ready, Steady, Cook at Weston Foyer

2009-10-20T02:36:00.000-07:00

Weston Foyer have been busy running their very own 'Ready, Steady Cook' competition as well as a 'Foyer comes clean' event where residents were given a come clean pack to tidy up their flat as well as personal hygiene items. Staff judged their efforts, and the resident with the most improved flat won a cinema voucher.

The Quay Foyer are inspired to get healthy

2009-10-20T01:53:00.000-07:00

The Quay Foyer in Poole, who are part of Year One of the Foyer Health Programme, have been busy with health taster sessions; from swimming in the sea to iceskating, to fishing and sculpture staff and residents have been inspired to get healthy!

The Foyer took a trip to the beach to host a sports day for staff and residents as part of their Foyer Health Programme. Residents got involved in games of volleyball and rounders and went for a swim in the sea.

They also visited Brownsea Island for a healthy picnic and sculpture session where residents were invited to make their own sculptures with the title 'Animal'. The winning sculpture was a brilliantly inventive turtle.

The Foyer ran a mental well-being session and took residents on a fishing trip.

Staff and residents also took a trip to Monkey World a chimpanzee rescue centre in Dorset.

Community Involvement at Salford Foyer

2009-06-24T02:08:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 21st June Salford Foyer staff and residents took part in the Race for Life for Cancer Research. Sponsorship money looks to total a whopping £300.

Foyer Health Resources

2009-04-22T03:42:00.000-07:00

Download some useful resources for the Foyer Health Programme and display them in your Foyer for all to see.

http://www.foyer.net/mpn/downloads/Foyer_Health_Info.pdf

Quick and easy tips for a healthier you!

Learn about "breaking the fast" and getting a healthier start to your day
Budget friendly tips for getting your 5-a-day without compromising what you want
Easy ways to burn calories without knowing you are exercising
Ways to reduce those "sweet tooth" cravings and still get your fix

Foyer Health Celebration Event 2009 Photographs

2009-04-20T06:31:00.000-07:00

Foyer Health Celebration Event 2009 Photographs

Here are a few snaps from this year's Foyer Health Celebration Event, held in Birmingham on 31st March 2009.

It was a smoothie soiree as the young people experimented with all different flavors of this fruity and refreshing treat!

Everyone had fun and got a little messy with their creations...

The day was a great success attended by around 100 Foyer staff and residents involved in the Foyer Health Programme. The event was all about celebrating the success and highlights of the Foyer Health programme and demonstrating the unique work of Foyers.

Residents Jess Lawrence, Darren Hobden and Ben Munnrey kicked off the event by sharing their experiences of setting up their Breakfast and Sandwich Club at Brighton and Hove Foyer

Keynote Speaker Paul Hooper, Regional Tobacco Policy Manager for the Department of Health addressed how Foyer staff and residents can explore alternatives to smoking and how we can all engage in healthy lifestyles

Over the course of the day Foyer staff and residents shared information and experiences of their Health programmes, other highlights included:

-Foyer staff and residents had an opportunity to practice some Tai Chi and to understand the benefits with Jon Price from the Rising Dragon Tai Chi School

- A British Military Fitness session helped to get the blood pumping for young people as they participated in the exercises

- NEF explored the Foyer Health slogan Take a positive step for your well-being and examined what people really mean when they talk about well-being

- Crewe YMCA Foyer, Exeter Foyer, Salford Foyer and West London YMCA all shared their highlights and lessons learnt from year one of the programme

Residents relaxed between information sessions and smoothie making as the day came to an end

Foyer Health Celebration Event 2009 Presentations

2009-04-06T08:39:00.001-07:00

The Foyer Federation hosted the Foyer Health Celebration Event on Tuesday 31st March 2009 at Aston University's Lakeside Centre to celebrate two years of the Foyer Health Programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund's Well-being programme and delivered in partnership with the Foyer Network throughout England.

Presentations from the conference can be dowloaded here.

Healthy Assets: ' A Transformational Approach' By Colin Falconer, Head of Innovation at The Foyer Federation.

Health Presentation from Michael Chuter, Chair or Greenwich PCT

Review of Year Two's Foyer Health Coaching Skills Training with Dave Pendle, Network Support Adviser and Coaching Skills Trainer at The Foyer Federation.

New Economics Foundation's presentation on Understanding and MeasuringWell-being.

Cars and Cakes make money for Comic Relief

2009-03-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Swindon Foyer residents raised a staggering £162,38 for Comic Relief in March 2009!

Hamud Saleban, Alex Rigley (to the right of photo here), Chantal McAdam, Shinette Woodward and Anwar Chema (to the left of photo here) washed and vacuumed cars all day for Jephson Housing Association staff and their Swindon Office raising £91,10.

Lucy Morgan, Leroy Allen, Callum Stone, Andrew Wilson, Robbie Ruddock, Christina Taylor, Kaylie Fitchett, Katie Ettenfield and Bryn Harding baked and sold cakes outside the Foyer to passers by raising a furher £71,28.

Healthy Eating Taster Session Photos

2009-03-24T09:33:00.001-07:00

Brighton and Hove Foyer Picnic

Blackburn with Darwen Foyer - 'Smoothie Making Bike'

First Step Foyer - 'Are you Fresh or Preserved?'

Leominster Foyer -Winners of Credit Munch Month competition Lauren Homer and Jason Scotford

Market Rasen Foyer - Beekeeping

Market Rasen - Organic meal

Market Rasen - Fruit Machine

Physical Activity Taster Session Photos

2009-03-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

Market Rasen Foyer - Gym inductions

Market Rasen Foyer - Games Day

Market Rasen Foyer - Rounders

Rugeley Foyer Self-Defense Taster Session

Mental Well-being Taster Session photos

2009-03-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

Market Rasen - Indian Head Massage

Redbridge Foyer Relationship Building Day

Yeovil Foyer Glass Decorating

Sexual Health stall at Redbridge Foyer

Food and Mood

2009-03-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

Torbay Food and Mood Workshop

The role of the Healthy Eating Ambassadors was to work alongside the Foyer Federation, Foyers and young people to ensure that our healthy eating initiatives not only make an impact on young people in Foyers and their food choices over the course of the programme, but also make a longer term impact on the policy and evidence base concerning increasing access to a healthy diet for disadvantaged youth. We recruited three Healthy Eating Ambassadors:

Jessica Mitchell – The Food Commission
Simon Boyle – Beyond Boyle
Jenny Sansom – Sustain

10 Food and Mood workshops were run by Sustain, and a total of 96 Foyer staff and residents participated in the programme.

To find out more about Sustain click here: http://www.sustainweb.org/

The 2 main aims of the workshop were to:

Increase the knowledge of Foyer staff about the links between diet and mood and equip and provide information on residents.

Make Foyer residents aware of the benefits food can have on how they feel, and equip them with food related skills.

Workshop programme

Residents introduced themselves and said what they had for breakfast. Healthy snacks (fruit, raw veg, brown pitta breads and dips etc) were provided for the residents to snack on

Discussion on Food and Mood – getting residents to acknowledge the link between food and mood, and that making good food choices will have a positive effect on their emotions
Food groups and the giant food and mood plate – young people interact with the plate placing different foods in the right section (protein, starchy food, good fats, bad fats, fruit and veg), therefore displaying a balanced diet
Caffeine quiz (link will be posted at a later date, watch this space!)
Blood Sugar Balancing – Balancing blood sugar is a really vital element of how food can affect our mood – the group looked a the difference between slow burn and fast burn food
Cooking a meal together and eating together

To see an example of a simple curry recipe, click here:
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/706/quick-vegetable-curry.aspx

Many residents learned new skills such as chopping and preparing vegetables and spices

Visit to a place where healthy food comes from such as organic farm or an allotment – Torbay Foyer spent the afternoon at an Organic Farm and picked and sampled various fruit, vegetables and flowers

What did Torbay Foyer residents think of the Organic Farm visit?

"I will buy organic veg and grow my own veg from now on."
"I will eat breakfast more often and eat more healthily."
"I will try to eat more wholegrain food."
"I will take care of myself."
"I am now not afraid of eating organic food."

Training up our Staff!

2009-03-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

Redbridge Foyer

Health Champions from Redbridge Foyer, Beckie Seward & Georgina English thoroughly enjoyed the detailed and comprehensive training they received for the Health Programme.

The learning was intense so the course was broken down into bite-size chunks, over four days. It was an opportunity to meet and share good practice with staff from other foyers and Trainer Denise O'Brien from the Foyer Federation, who contributed to the overall improvement of their professional practice. Beckie and Georgina now feel they are able to empower residents to help them think more about choices and decisions that impact on their lives.

In order to enhance their delivery of the Health Program, Redbridge Foyer Health Champions also received Food Promotion Training and are attending sessions with Nutrition Training and Juice4Life (Newham Food Access Partnership).

Connections in the Community

2009-03-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

Blackburn with Darwen Foyer

Through the Health Programme, Blackburn with Darwen Foyer has secured great links with the local council’s Healthy Communities Partnership Project. Currently BwD detail council are running a free fitness scheme called Re:fresh. It is aimed at 16-25 year olds living in the borough and some Foyer residents have been part of their promotional material.

The council has agreed to allow Foyer residents a free gym induction at the Regency Gym, along with free use of the gym on Saturdays and Sundays, which is when residents are free, so it has been very popular.

Foyer Health Launch Events: Year 1 Foyers

2009-03-17T09:04:00.000-07:00

Swindon Foyer

Sleaford Foyer

Salford Foyer

Paines Mill and Bedford Foyer

Simon Boyle began his role as Healthy Eating Ambassador by running 4 focus groups with Foyer residents. The aim of the focus group was for Simon to gain an understanding of young people’s attitudes to food and their daily diets. The residents were encouraged to complete a food diary the week before the focus group to bring to the session. After a morning discussion on food and diet, Simon took the group to the supermarket for them to purchase the ingredients they would need, to make him their favourite meal. Some findings from the focus group were:

Most of the residents' favourite meals were family oriented e.g. roast and spag bol
3 our of 4 Focus groups said that they were eating worse since coming to the Foyer
Money was a massive issue, with a couple of residents spending as little as £3 a week on food
Residents also cited poor cooking facilities, lack of respect for the kitchen by fellow residents and lack of cooking equipment, meant they were surviving mainly on takeaways - the majority of resident in the focus group survived on 3 takeaways per week
Lack of time, skills/knowledge and motivation to cook
Generally, residents had a good basic knowledge of food and many had started to look at labels and understood daily guidelines
Many residents would eat more fresh fruit if they had more money

Simon took the learning from the focus groups to create a cook school, which he delivered to 18 Foyers across the country.

Simon said "We believe that when people cook together they engage in a truly unique way. People open up and get underneath the skin of their relationships revealing their souls and stories to each other. The kitchen atmosphere unmasks what is going on in their lives and the pressures they face."

He added: "The residents will experience a 'hands on' role at every stage of the cook school, cooking the menu from scratch, under the supervision of ours chefs. Demonstrations and tips will be provided throughout the session."

The cook schools kicked off with an informal discussion with the group about what they had eaten for breakfast, their general diet and attitude to food. The mornign was spent cooking an array of dishes which were then served as a group lunch. Dishes cooked included:

Carrot, coconut and almond soup and homemade bread rolls
Tomato bruschetta
Pan fried trout with a pomegranate and honey dressing
Spaghetti Bolognese
Mushroom risotto
Lemot posset

"Just to let you know that today we had Simon here. Eight of our residents worked hard directed by Simon and his helper Kevin to prepare and cook some wonderful dishes. Myself and other staff were invited to join them to savour some of their specialities! Everything tasted divine, and the residents were so motivated! It has been a truly fantastic experience for both staff and residents." Sharon Spears, Trinity Foyer Manager.

Poole Quay Foyer

The Health Launch at Poole Quay Foyer gave young people the chance to try out lots of fun free activities and sessions, to find out about the health programme and to sign up to it.

This is what the young people found out about ...

Healthy cooking courses
Life coaching sessions
Healthy Eating taster sessions
Mental Wellbeing taster sessions
Physical Activity taster sessions

And other activities included:

Smoothie making
Things to taste
Health MOT’s
Recipes and meal ideas
A competition with great prizes
And lots more to kick start everyone’s healthy life style!

Hereford Foyer

Croydon Foyer

Cangle Foyer

Foyer Health Launch Events: Year 2 Foyers

2009-03-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

Bristol Foyer

Forty people attended the Health Launch Event at Bristol Foyer in December 08. Foyer residents decorated the reception and other public areas of the Bristol Foyer the night before, so everyone had plenty of energy on the day.

The 'Staff in Spandex' were hilarious and dressed up as 80s exercise legends. The Wii Fit and Wii Sports were brought out for the first time at the Launch. They were until then kept a big secret and were a major cause of excitment on the day! There were also exercise videos, healthy food and fruit juice provided at reception.

The Mezzanine on the first floor became the Health Promotion Section, where there was a NHS smoking cessation group providing information on lung capacity and other smoking advice. There was also a Princes Trust display, the Young People's Drug and Alcohol team came along with their suitcase of 'drugs' and a Health Promotion Specialist brought lots of information on cycling and sport facilities in the area.

Staff and residents all had a go at Boxing, Yoga and Street Dance taster sessions. Meanwhile, a college group who deliver weekly sessions at the Foyer, ran a Ready Steady Cook session in the training kitchen.

Since the Launch Event, Bristol Foyer has held smoking cessation groups and has made good links with Health Promotion specialists, who have offered residents free bicycles. Other benefits include a sports link with the local authority who has provided free gym membership to all 16-22 year olds at the Foyer.

Plymouth Foyer

The Health Programme was launched at Plymouth Foyer during its 8th Anniversary celebrations. There were two big reasons to celebrate and Plymouth Foyer held a fun-filled festive open day with performances by local school children, staff and residents, and the launch of the Foyer Health Scheme. Agencies from all over Plymouth and members of the public came along to join in on a very successful day, including staff from the Plymouth City Council, education and training providers in Plymouth, other supported housing projects, volunteer services, Social Services, some Plymouth Foyer ex-residents and members of the public.

Some agencies brought leaflets and stands offering relevant information and advice to Plymouth residents, and two representatives from the local gym did some basic health checks. The importance of a sensible diet and appropriate amounts of physical exercise were high on their agenda and residents received ten free passes to the gym for a year.

The entertainment for the day came from pupils from Stoke Dameral Secondary School as well as St. Peters Primary School, who wowed everyone with their versions of some classic Christmas carols.

Some brave members of the team also sung some classics, kitted out in their seventies outfits!
The day was finished off with entertainment from Teresa and her African Drums, so the young people and foyer staff showed off some of their hidden talents too.

Meanwhile, the young health champions at Plymouth Foyer made and served freshly made juices and smoothies, which were very popular with everybody. They also handed out recipe cards with some ideas of healthy meals.

Other residents were involved throughout the day by giving visitors a tour of the Foyer as well as meeting and greeting them at the door. The Foyer held a raffle and received many donations.

It was a really successful day and residents have asked for smoothie sessions to be organized for the future.

Blackburn with Darwen

The Health Programme kicked off at Blackburn with Darwen Foyer with a day for all to have a go at activities. There were yoga, aerobic and smoothie making sessions. Everyone enjoyed a healthy buffet lunch, made by the residents and Re:fresh came along to sign people up for free local gym memberships. Residents took lots of information away with them too, as there were stands and presentations from a range of organizations, including the NHS stop smoking team, the BwDCoucils Health and Fitness Team and Lifeline, Drugs and Alcohol misuse workers.

Wisbech Foyer

Wisbech Foyer staff and residents enjoyed a trip to Strikes, the local ten pin bowling alley. Everyone had a laugh egging each other on and there were lots of tasty fruit juices on offer too. It was the icebreaker event for the Health Programme launch and it was a big success!

The Christmas party offered lots of tasty, healthy food that was bought and prepared by a group of residents. There was a range of food on offer, including chilli con carne, jacket potatoes and healthy snacks, like dips and breadsticks. One of the dishes the residents prepared was the Chunky Chicken and Peppers recipe, provided by the Foyer Federation, which was extremelly popular! There was music, singing and dancing, and definitely lots of festive spirit!

And some outdoors fun to launch the Health Programme at Wisbech Foyer

Barking Foyer

Eastbourne Foyer

Worcester YMCA

Something fishy...

Physical Activity Taster Sessions

2009-03-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

Body Worlds

To kick start keeping fit new year resolutions, Leominster Foyer residents and staff visited the Gunter von Hagens’ Body Worlds – the original exhibition of real human bodies, at the O2 arena in London. Everyone had the chance to see up close preserved human specimens showing skeletons, tendons and veins. It had a special focus on health, well-being and the ageing process. Amazingly there was even an exhibition of smokers and non-smokers lungs, which gave a really visual explanation of the effects of smoking on the human body.

What did Leominster Foyer residents think about their trip to Bodyworlds?

"I would visit London again!"
"I will live my life to the fullest and healthiest."
"I will nurture my body and encourage my children."
"Life can still be explored in death - I know respect my life."
"I will treat my body with respect."
"I will think more carefully about my diet."
"I will remind other residents that the decisions we make about food and exercise will directly impact on our bodies."

To find out more about Gunter von Hagens and his Body Worlds click here: http://www.visitlondon.com/bodyworlds/index

Skiing, Tubing and Luging

Blackburn and Manchester Foyer teamed up for a day’s snowy fun at the Chill Factor indoor ski centre in Manchester. More than 40 people enjoyed a one hour ski lesson before tubing down the slope in a rubber ring and luging, on a bobsleigh track. It had people wanting more!

Dance

A professional dance coach gave a two hour street dance class at Blackburn Foyer. It was such a success, it has now become a weekly activity.

Harlow Foyer residents busted some shapes on the dance floor at the Hip Hop dance class.

What did Harlow Foyer residents think about their dance class?

"I will attend all future sessions and look out for other life skills."
"I will look into hobbies for my daughter and challenge myself more."
"I am going to practice my dance routines and enjoy life more."

To find out more about dance classes in your area click here: http://ceroc.com/nonmembers/

Games day

Get out in the fresh air with Foyer residents and staff and have a giggle over some silly games! Market Rasen Foyer's games day ranged from sack races and relays to goal scoring and ‘ball and spoon’. Everyone had such a laugh that the games went on all day and into the evening.

Rounders

The Rounders taster session at the local leisure centre was such a success, that Market Rasen Foyer staff and residents have kept it up and now play every week, weather permitting! The field equipment is used free of charge and it’s a great way to get out, get some exercise and bond as a team. People’s competitive streak certainly came out!

Kick Boxing

Fancy watching it before you commit to taking part? That’s exactly what Market Rasen Foyer did. Residents watched a kickboxing demonstration at the local hall and then were able to sign up to enroll afterwards.

Harlow Foyer residents has asked for boxing lessons and a punchbag. So a boxercise class was offered to residents to develop their team work and encourage them to exercise.

What did the young people think of their Kick Boxing sessions?

"I will encourage others to attend."
"I am going to practice my moves for the next session!"

Self-defence

Rugeley Foyer residents had the opportunity to try something new, learn about self-defence techniques, fitness and personal safety. It helped to raise their self-confidence and many are now wanting to take up karate. Photos will be posted soon.

Increase in domestic violence in the foyer and Harlow town led Harlow Foyer also ran a Self-defence taster session aimed at the 'Laydezz' group. They also discussed the importance of person safety.

What did the young people from Harlow Foyer think about their Self-defence session?

"I will be careful when I go out alone and will pass information on to others to help them to stay safe."
"I feel a lot safer after listening to new ways to defend myself."
"I will be on my guard and more aware of what's going on around me."

Paintballing

Bristol and Yeovil Foyers teamed up for a day of paintballing in Dorchester. Everyone integrated and played together, and Bristol Foyer won the Yeovil vs Bristol game at the end!
The combination of freedom to run and extreme destruction with a paintball gun proved irresistible!

Swimming

The trip to the local pool went swimmingly for staff and residents from Market Rasen Foyer.

Winter olympics

Market Rasen Foyer’s recent venture was the Physical Well-being week 'Winter Olympics'. A week of fun and games including an assault course, an outdoor treasure hunt, gym activities and a human games machine. To celebrate the end of a brilliant week, staff and residents enjoyed a meal together.

Walking: Pacing for pennies

Four dedicated residents from Market Rasen Foyer joined volunteers from a local surgery in a sponsored walk and kept going on the 6 mile long walk in the rain, to fundraise for Marie Curie Cancer Care charity.

Harlow Foyer also held a sponsored work for Children in Need. The residents planned the route and estimated the time they would take. They were also responsible for writing to the BBC to get a fundraising pack and got sponsorship from as many people as they could.

What did Market Rasen residents think about their sponsored walk?

"I will focus on walking daily to my destinations."
"I will do more for charity events."

To find out about the importance of walking click here: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/exercise/Pages/Introduction.aspx?url=Pages/what-is-it.aspx

Gym inductions

Not all Foyers have a gym on-site, but that doesn’t mean it should be harder for residents to join a gym. Market Rasen Foyer organised for a local fitness instructor to come in to the Foyer to give residents gym inductions.

Mental Well-being: Taster Sessions

2009-03-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Relationship building day

Residents from Redbridge Foyer and Focus E15, enjoyed a day at Alton Towers theme park. Young people were put into groups with people they did not already know and worked in teams to promote relationships and friendship building. The idea was to give young people a chance to bond and meet new people and keep up these new found friendships. As well as promoting Mental Well-being this activity promoted Physical Activity as the young people were outdoors, walking and orienteering all day. Photos will be posted soon.

What did Redbridge Foyer's young people think of the Relationship building day?

"It taught me not to judge people on the way they look."
"I will now be more open and friendly to newcomers."
"The day helped to improve my confidence when meeting new people."

In fact, the residents loved the day out so much that they asked for more social events. So, inter-Foyer Olympic games are being organized with other East Potential Foyers, to reinforce relationships and give the young people another opportunity to make new friends.

"It is important to incorporate informal education into their learning. We (the staff) really notice skills the young people have through this kind of informal learning, that we wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. People’s personalities really shine through when they do what they enjoy doing instead of what they’re told to do, and we find out more about the young people if they feel at ease and can express themselves". Georgina English, Senior Foyer Support Worker, Redbridge Foyer.

Glass decorating

Yeovil Foyer residents enjoyed creating some lovely gifts for their nearest and dearest in time for Christmas last year. Photos will be posted soon.

Redbridge Foyer residents also expressed themselves through creative art and crafts to improve their mental well-being.

What did Redbridge Foyer's young people think about decorating glass?

"I now know how to relax and express myself using art."
"I will allow my child to use art."
"I will take my time and practice to improve my art."

Indian Head massages

Nicola Lee, project worker and Health Champion at Market Rasen Foyer regularly gives Indian head massages to residents. It has proven very successful. Residents regularly book sessions with her and it has helped them relax and sleep better.

How can an indian head massage help you? Click here to find out:
http://www.worldwidehealth.com/health-article-The-Benefits-of-Indian-Head-Massage.html

Playing musical instruments

Sound Links, a local music company, has been going to Market Rasen Foyer every Friday to teach residents how to play musical instruments. The Foyer has its own little studio and instruments, and the young people have been learning to play the drums, the guitar and the keyboard and have even written their own songs! After a lot of practice, they are now ready for their performance at Lincoln College this month.

Learn about the benefits of playing a musical instrument by clicking here:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/19535.php

Feeling good about yourself

Self-esteem workshops were held at Leominster Foyer to help female residents achieve their life-coaching goals.

Here are just some of the results from this session for Leominster Foyer residents:

Two pregnant residents are getting into swimming and yoga to prepare them for childbirth

One male resident has invested in his interest for fishing

Another male resident is part of a Darts team. It has been a huge step for his mental well-being as it is getting him out of the Foyer and involved in the community, improving his self-esteem and confidence

Another resident took part in the homeless world cup trials and used the money to buy astro turf boots and shin pads

The workshop was so successful that another Foyer has been trialing it to see whether or not it could be passed on to other organizations!

The Clothes Show

Coventry Foyer held an activity to promote positive self-esteem, improve confidence and provide a 'feel good experience'.

What did Coventry Foyer residents think of the Clothes Show?

"It made me feel better about myself."
"It inspired me to pump up and work out!"

Sexual Health

High on the agenda at Yeovil Foyer, these regular drop-in sessions give residents the chance to talk to a qualified member of staff, get a Chlamydia testing kit, condoms and advice, all free of charge.

Redbridge Foyer also had a HIV/AIDS Awareness Information Week which provided residents Photos will be posted soon.

"It was really interesting to learn about the young people’s views and perceptions of HIV/AIDS. Many thought HIV/AIDS was only transmitted through gay sex. This awareness week gave staff the opportunity to challenge the young people’s views and to refresh their knowledge and education on sexually transmitted diseases". Georgina English, Senior Foyer Support Worker, Redbridge Foyer.

Physical Activity

2009-03-16T06:48:00.000-07:00

Cycling

Rugeley Foyer invested in five bicycles thanks to the Health Programme. The rural location of Rugeley Foyer is ideal for cycling and all bikes have been used regularly. Some residents have even taken on the challenge of a 6 mile bike ride!

Market Rasen Foyer raised £80 for Red Nose Day cycling on the Foyer's static bike from 9 am till 4.30 pm!

To find out more about cycling click here:
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1089651611859

Swimming

A few Foyers introduced swimming as taster sessions to their residents, and because they were so popular, they have been doing them regularly. Blackburn with Darwen Foyer have free weekly swimming session at ‘Waves’ swimming pool and Yeovil Foyer also have free swim passes for their residents, for their local pool.

To find out more about how you can overcome your fear of swimming click here:
http://www.swimmingwithoutstress.co.uk/sws/

Football

Bristol and Yeovil Foyers have enjoyed playing against each other and Blackburn with Darwen Foyer have a five-a-side football team and a team in the Thursday night league.

Click here to find out more about the Football Foundation:
http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/

Circus Skills

‘Circus Jim’ a local circus skills instructor has been teaching residents at Blackburn with Darwen Foyer, skills based around balance, co-ordination and physical dexterity. The residents are going to perform at the Foyer, to show off their new skills.

Kickboxing and Boxing

Yeovil Foyer runs Kickboxing courses over 6 weeks and weekly Boxing sessions at a local martial arts centre.

Weekly Fitness Sessions

Many Foyers, including Blackburn with Darwen Foyer have invested in a Nintendo Wii and Wii fit board to encourage young people to exercise.

Redbridge Foyer residents and staff have got some catchy names for their weekly activities:

Motivation Mondays
Gym, fitness groups and leisure centre passes are all available.

Wii Wednesdays
Wii Sports, Olympic Games and Wii Fit morning and afternoon sessions happen every Wednesday, with options for female only sessions and different games, groups and levels.

Fit Thursdays
Redbridge Foyer staff and residents have been making the most of their Health Pack. Now that the sun is shining, they are planning regular trips to the local park to play football and rounders.

Healthy Eating: Taster Sessions

2009-03-16T05:29:00.000-07:00

A day out - a picnic in the sunshine

Brighton and Hove Foyer residents and staff enjoyed getting out and about together, for a day walking in the sunshine and relaxing over a tasty, healthy picnic. Photos will be posted soon.

New Tastes

Brighton and Hove Foyer staff encouraged residents to try new and different foods by holding a New Tastes Taster Session. Many of the young people live on very restricted diets low in essential nutrients and are scared of trying new foods. The day was filled with competitions, quizzes, prizes and free food, to help break down some of these barriers. Everyone had a real giggle with a blindfold testing and enjoyed eating everything up after the taster session. The same food was used until one of the blindfolded participants guessed what it was!

Here is some of what they tried...
Maple syrups
Chocolate syrups
Mustards
Pickle juice
Sugars
Salt
Cinnamon
Ketchup
Juices

Smoothie making

A popular, interactive and fun activity, to inspire young people to eat more fruit in an easy, tasty way. Several Foyers have had smothie making sessions including Yeovil Foyer, but Blackburn with Darwen Foyer have taken this on to the next level by creating a ‘Smoothie making bike’! The blender was powered by a bike, so participants peddled on the static bike to make their smoothie. A two-in-one activity, promoting both healthy eating and physical activity. Everyone enjoyed a variety of healthy smoothies, with a range of fruits and flavours. Photos will be posted soon.

"The faster the participants peddled, the quicker their smoothie was made… it was such a success, it has now become a weekly activity!” Gareth Mcgrail, Health Champion Darwen with Blackburn and Darwen Foyer.

‘Are you Fresh or Preserved?’

Resident Health Champions Zanelle Philbert and Clarissa Dougan ‘womaned’ the stall for the East Potential Health Launch, held at Jack Petchy Foyer in Barking.

All East Potential Foyers joined together for the Health Launch Event at Jack Petchy Foyer.

Redbridge Foyer staff provided packet food items and home-made food items such as macaroni and cheese and burgers. Blindfolded young people had to choose which they liked most. The majority of young people preferred home-made, fresh food and they learnt about the benefits of eating home-made food. Photos will be posted soon.

First Step staff and residents made smoothies and Focus E15 gave massages and a workshop on 'eat well plates': identifying which food groups food items fit into, and how much of each food group you should eat every day.

Other East Potential Foyers also set up stalls at the Launch Event which included: Healthy Food, Self-Health Awareness Information, Indian Head Massage, Steel Band, MC’ing and DJ’ing and more! See photos below.

What did First Step Foyer residents think of the 'Are you Fresh or Preserved' stall?

"I won't eat preserved foor and cook more at home."
"I will add more seasoning to my home-made burgers."
"I will plan my meals to be cost effective."
"I will eat more home-made food."
"I will experiment more with fresh food."
"I liked the home-made burger best!"

Making a healthy take-away

Staff and residents at Safe Start Foyer set the scene for an Italian Bistro by decorating their Common room with Italian flags and cut outs. They even covered the tables with red and white checked cloths and added candles in wine bottles for a real Mediterranean feel.

The aim was to show residents how easy it is to make a healthy and cheap take-away meal at home. Everyone rolled their sleeves up and enjoyed mucking in to make some delicious pizzas from scratch and gobbling them up afterwards!

Residents built on their cooking and group-working skills, and benefited from interacting with other residents. There was a lot of enthusiasm in the kitcken as everyone helped each other.

What did Safe Start Foyer residents think about the Healthy take-aways session?

"I will use the tomato and basil sauce in my food again."
"I will prepare my food and cook better from now on."
"I will eat and buy fewer pizzas now I know what goes into them!"

"I will enjoy myself when I'm cooking in the future!"

Credit Munch Month

Leominster Foyer got creative with lots of Healthy Eating taster sessions for the month of February.

The Healthy Eating Taster Sessions consisted of these three competitions: The winners' photos will be posted soon!

“I went to the shops and bought a week’s worth of healthy shopping. How much did it cost?” Whoever guesses how much was spent, wins the shopping.

Healthy Living quiz - Multiple choice quiz on what’s healthy and what’s not.

For the Credit munch meal, the young people received a £5 voucher to produce a healthy nutritious meal for two.The meal was graded on various attributes and the winner got a meal for two in one of Hereford's finest restaurants.

Two of the winners from the credit munch month were Lauren Homer and Jason Scotford, pictured below.

Lauren won the 'Do you know your vitamins from your minerals?' quiz and was awarded with a spice rack and cookery book. Jason made an excellent guess on 'how much was my healthy shopping?', being only one pence out with his guess. He won the contents of the shopping list. Their photo will be posted soon.

Josh Ball won the competition to produce the best healthy credit munch meal, with his own recipe for 'Josh's chinese balls'. He won a meal for two at his choice of restaurant, and chose to take his girlfriend to Ask for a slap up meal.
Everyone who took part (there were 22 entries accross the 3 competitions) also got a £5 voucher to use at subway, as a way of congratulating them on their efforts.

Beekeeping

Staff and young people from Market Rasen Foyer spent a day learning about beekeeping from a local bee keeper. Everyone enjoyed making their own candles and ended a great day feasting on different flavoured honey and homemade bread! Photos will be posted soon.

To find out about the benefits of honey click here:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_is_honey_healthy

Organic meals

Market Rasen Foyer invited a local health food proprietor to treat staff and residents to an organic meal. All the ingredients were provided for, and the residents watched and learnt as a tasty vegetable stir-fry, with a peanut butter-satay twist was wipped up for them! They also made smoothies and healthy, organic cakes as a little dessert treat. Photos will be posted soon.

Find out why organic food is better for you by clicking here:
http://www.organicfoodinfo.net/

Fruity Fridays

Every Friday at Blackburn Foyer, residents get lots of free fruit, which encourages them to eat healthily.

Human fruit machine

Making fruit fun! Market Rasen Foyer regularly plays the human fruit machine game. It keeps residents involved and it’s an interactive way of getting them to eat more fruit.

This is how the game works: Three residents have a shopping bag with an assortment of fruit. Whoever’s go it is will stop the music and all three participants pick out a piece of fruit at the same time. If they all pick out the same fruit, the winner keeps the fruit! Photos will be posted soon.

Breakfast Clubs

2009-03-16T05:18:00.000-07:00

Breakfast Clubs are a popular way of motivating and encouraging Foyer residents to get up, eat breakfast and keep to a routine...

Brighton and Hove Foyer's Breakfast Club offers a wide range of food for residents. Some of what's on offer includes muesli, porridge, fresh fruit, eggs, tomatoes, beans and healthy drinks such as fresh juice and home-made smoothies. Breakfast club runs from 8.15 am to 9.15 am, so it is an incentive for residents to get up early and kick start their day.

Residents have learnt new skills at Breakfast Club and now know how to cook the perfect egg!
Some residents have even started making smoothies and sandwiches to sell to staff and residents at reception.

What did Brighton and Hove Foyer residents think about the Breakfast Club?

"It is a good place to socialise with other residents."
"It gets me up in the mornings and gives me energy to get to work."

Salford Foyer’s ‘Mid-Morning Mission’ is a club with activities, information and of course, breakfast!

The Breakfast Club at Sleaford Foyer has worked wonders and it has really benefited residents. Here are just some of the positive results:

More regular sleep patterns
Healthier breakfast for some residents
Actually eating breakfast for other residents
Agreeing to a wakeup call protocol between staff and residents
Keeping up college courses and programmes – with more young people completing courses than in previous years
Giving young people a chance to rethink their whole diet and make positive changes

Cooking, eating and socialising at Salford Foyer

2009-03-16T05:01:00.000-07:00

Salford Foyer launched the Cookery Sessions on Salford Foyer’s Community Involvement Day.

Residents met Sir Richard Brandson and used lots of kitchen freebies, donated by Virgin Medistaff, to construct a kitchen sculpture at Virgin Media.

“The Cooking Sessions were so popular that at times some residents had to be turned away! I have thoroughly enjoyed delivering the cookery sessions and managing the project. Salford Foyer has a great bunch of keen young people and it has been really rewarding following their progress and development not only with their culinary skills but also with their knowledge and self-confidence in general. It has been a real pleasure working with our volunteer Sarah and all the Salford Foyer staff. Thanks to you all for your cooperation, support and hard work.” Rahela Khan, Health Champion Salford Foyer.

What happened at each Cooking Session?

Residents learnt about health, hygiene and safety in the kitcken, as well as budgeting and nutrition at each session.
The sessions were varied and exciting and took preferences and dietary needs into account. They ranged from ‘Everyday Cookery’ and ‘Make It and Eat It’ to ‘2-Course Cookery’ and ‘International Cookery’ sessions.

What else did the young people do?

The young people have put together a photo album of the sessions and used their creativity to brighten up the kitchen, with a collage of dried ingredients and a food poem.

Kitchen Library and Kitchen Checks

The Kitchen Library has been a big success and the young people are regularly borrowing utensils, dishes and books. Everyone has cooperated with the Monthly Larder Check and the Weekly Fridge Check.

The team is proud to say that the Weekly Fridge Check is done every week without fail and that they hope to include both kitchen checks in the New Resident’s pack.

To find out more about cooking, click here:
http://www.letsgetcooking.org.uk/Home

Foyer Health Celebration Event

2009-02-12T02:50:00.000-08:00

The Foyer Health Celebration Event is taking place on the 31st March, its a chance for Foyer staff and residents from across the network to come together to celebrate and share best practice and learning from the Foyer Health programme.

Foyer Health is a three year programme which promotes the importance of Health and well-being for young people and their communities throughout England. Foyer Health is funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Well-being programme and offers Foyer residents specialist packages, projects or interventions in one of the programme’s three main areas – healthy eating, physical activity or mental well being.

Its a one day event at Lakeside Centre, Aston University in Birmingham for all year 1 and year 2 Foyers participating in the Foyer Health programme. Its a free event and is funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Well-being Programme. We hope to see you there.

To book your place, simply click on the link below
https://www.questback.com/thefoyerfederation/healthevent/

Blackpool Foyer's Foyer Health Launch Press Coverage

2008-05-06T02:58:00.001-07:00

Click here to see some of the great coverage received by Blackpool Foyer for their Foyer Health launch event.

http://www.foyer.net/mpn/downloads/Drink_Up.pdf

http://www.foyer.net/mpn/downloads/Healthy_Habits_For_Life.pdf

http://www.foyer.net/mpn/downloads/Lottery_money_supporting_young_people_to_lead_healthy_lifestyle.pdf

Blackpool Foyer Launch their Foyer Health Programme in Style

2008-04-29T07:21:00.001-07:00

Working with the Health Improvement Team at your local Primary Care Trust

2008-04-21T04:56:00.000-07:00

My name is Rahela Khan and I am project managing the Healthy Transitions programme for Salford Foyer.

I originally liaised with Salford PCT and Sure Start in 2003 when I used to teach cookery and crafts. Last year, I was recommended by one of the Health Improvement Team Staff who was an ex-student. A six week course was organised by Janet, the Health Improvement Worker for the PCT and delivered in the autumn. A further course funded by the Foyer was completed in March.
We have involved Janet with the Health Action Team and have worked closely to identify activities and information that would be more beneficial to the Young People. Janet will be involved with the Launch event and Tasters doing activities and displays around nutrition, healthy eating and relaxation. We will bring Janet into the Foyer to do Smoothie demonstrations with the other regular groups and sessions we hold.

We have found Janet a great source of information and contacts due to her connections with the PCT.

I also work for Barnardo’s in a Children’s Centre and find we can liaise really well with the PCT in so many different ways such as infant feeding peer support, young mums groups, sexual health, drugs and alcohol awareness and smoking cessation to name a few. One contact is one foot in the door to many opportunities.

And now a bit about our Foyer Health programme ..
Our Healthy Eating programme will be launched on Thursday 1st May at Salford Foyer 12noon-3pm where we will have local agencies attending and 3 different activities, baby massage, reflexology and creative arts. The Young People Leaders, i.e. The Health Action Team, will prepare a free buffet for everyone to savour. Our tasters will each include a number of activities, with free buffet and beverages. Healthy Eating will offer 3 demos around Quick Food and Food Fun activities. Physical activities for the Young People to partake in will be boxing, Caribbean and street dance and Chi Gung. A late buffet will be served at 3pm.

The well-being taster will bring Thai cuisine demonstrations, relaxation and reflexology. Food and Spice goody bags with recipes will be given to the Young People as prize draws. The 40 cookery sessions will consist of short courses around ‘Make it and eat it’, ‘International cookery’, ‘Food Challenge’ and Food Collages.

Future plans include setting up a breakfast club called ‘Mid-morning Mission’ with quizzes, activities and food demonstrations.

Worcester YMCA Foyer launch their Foyer Health Programme

2008-04-10T06:54:00.001-07:00

Worcester YMCA Foyer launched their Foyer Health Programme on the 7th April with an evening all about preparing and cooking fish. The Foyer's chef and Foyer Health ambassadors joined forces with the residents to help them cook.

Torbay Foyer Health Champion - My encounter with the big boys.

2008-04-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

Sarah Bugler
Torbay Foyer Health Champion

My encounter with the big boys

Dear Mr Sainsbury’s, Mr Tesco and Mr Morrison’s

My name is Sarah Bugler, we have a Foyer that provides supported accommodation for twenty single young homeless people, we are embarking on a new initiative supported by the lottery and the Foyer Federation… a most exciting event to try and encourage young people to learn how to cook well balanced, healthy meals on a budget, these young people are future customers.

Is there anything you can do to help support this very worthwhile cause, I would be happy to come and visit to give you more details..

We all know how the rest of the story goes.

Response

You are just one of around 100 requests we have each week to help a charity
Put it in writing and send it to head office
No one can make that decision here and now the managers out (do you have a deputy? yes but he is out too!)
All discounts have to be agreed through head office in advance at least three months
Sorry No
We will call you back (never did)
We have our own campaign

So when all else fails, someone one told me to try and cut out the middle men, so my task was to do just that, I will go straight to source, as we were unable to afford to send me off to sunny Spain etc to get the fruit, I found a local supplier and fruit factory within two miles of the Foyer

I was invited to the factory and shown how the produce was sorted, packed etc. The supplier was extremely helpful and happy to support a local good cause. So thank you to Frank Mann for supplying more fruit than I think a supermarket could stock and at cost price.

We used the fruit on our launch and taster day. Each resident received a fruit goodie bag, smoothes and taste tested the exotic fruits.

Due to the abundance we were able to provide a supported housing project with a goodie bag and two more boxes of a variety of fruit were delivered to two homeless charities.

MP Richard Spring visits Cangle Foyer Health Programme

2008-04-07T02:48:00.000-07:00

Richard Spring, MP for West Suffolk, has visited Cangle Foyer to see the work going on around their Foyer Health Programme.

Guidance for Physical Activity Programmes

2008-04-07T02:07:00.000-07:00

This 'Guidance for Physical Activity Programmes' guide provides some advice and guidance, as well as some facts and figures for developing an effective physical activity programme. It also contains suggestions of who to contact to develop local partnerships on physical activity.

For those applying to join Year 2 of Foyer Health six key areas need to be included in planning your programme. They are listed in brief below and more details are provided in the guidance document below:
1. Young peoples' participation should be integral to the planning and implementation of the programme.
2. The programme should be informed by the recommendations on physical activity levels required to maintain health and well-beinhttp://guidance_on_designing_your_specialist_physical_activity_programme.pdf/g and good practice in promoting physical activity.
3. The programme should deliver a range of activity opportunities at a range of levels.
4. The programme should support young people to develop the skills and confidence to integrate physical activity into their daily lives whilst at the Foyer, but also in the medium and long term after moving on to independent living.
5. The physical activity programme should have the potential to become sustainable after 2009.
6. The physical activity programme should identify and plan to develop new partnerships and to integrate into existing local physical activity initiatives: e.g. healthy walks schemes and sport development programmes.

Foyer Health - Application for Year Two Funding Now Open!

2008-03-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

We’ve had a really exciting time getting the first year of Foyer Health: The Healthy Transitions programme, off the ground. Foyers around England have come up with lots of creative approaches to healthy eating and young people are getting involved in designing the activities in their Foyer.

Now the time has come to invite Foyers to apply to join in with Year 2 of the programme. Year 2 of the programme runs from Sept 08 to August 09 and has a focus on promoting physical activity.

So, what does the programme include?

A free 4 day coaching skills course for Foyer staff with a focus on enabling young people to set and achieve health and well-being goals of their own.
Funding for Foyers to deliver holistic health taster sessions on healthy eating, mental well-being and physical activity.
Funding for Foyers to develop and invest in sustainable physical activity opportunities for young people. For example, developing sports and activity clubs and developing healthy support networks through access to local gym and leisure facilities.Support and training from the Foyer Health Network and access to our specialist consultant Physical Activity Ambassadors.
Achieving specialist physical activity accreditation standards for Foyers.
Access to a capital funds.
Evaluation

How to express your interest

Please send an email to the National Programme Manager, Nerys Edmonds nerys@foyer.net outlining:

What your aims and objectives for participating in this year of the programme are.
What your initial ideas and plans for developing sustainable approaches to increasing physical activity opportunities for young people are.
How you will develop new activity or build on and enhance existing activity.
What resources you have in place to support the programme.

The deadline for the expression of interest is 15th April 2008
If you are selected then you will be asked to complete a more detailed Stage 2 application, the deadline for which is the 15th June.
Foyers who submitted an application in December for Year 2 will be contacted directly to send in an updated plan.

Association for Young People's Health

2008-03-12T04:57:00.001-07:00

The Association for Young People’s Health is a major new charity and membership organisation creating a focus for all professionals and organisations working in the field of young people’s health.

The Association is supported with funding from the Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. It was launched at a conference held on the 6th February 2008 at the Institute of Child Health, London.

Join up Now !!

http://www.youngpeopleshealth.org.uk/

Notes and Ideas from the Foyer Health Network Meetings March '08

2008-03-12T03:57:00.000-07:00

Hi There

Over this last week I've had the pleasure of travelling around the country with Lisa Fallowfield Head of Health Projects at Aberdeen Foyer and meeting up with all of you and hearing your ideas and progress with your Foyer Health programmes.

We've had some great ideas and I wanted to get them out there for everyone to see as soon as possible

Here's just a few.....

Fun things to try with fruit

The Human Fruit Machine ! - this was a great idea from Painswick Inn Foyer who created a human fruit machine at their launch event on 22nd Feb. The machine needs four people, 1 to act as the lever, and three as the "fruit machine ". Pull the handle and each of the three pick a fruit at random from a bowl. A lucky player will find three lemons or pears selected and will duly get fruit as a prize ! ...need to know more ..contact Painswick Inn Foyer

Torbay Foyer breaks the fruit barrier ....... Torbay Health Champion Sarah initially approached local supermarkets about accessing some fruit and veg for the Foyer, but did not meet a very helpful response. So she went off to find out who supplied the supermarkets locally with fruit and veg and found a very helpful local supplier who will be supporting their launch.

Also try ..fruit as prize ...Aberdeen have used a pineapple as a Trophy ! Feel the fruit ..Why not have a Fruity Friday and provide a small goody bag of fruit to all residents. Others have managed to transform their tuck shop.......

Another way to encourage young people to try cooking something new and healthy is to put together a healthy recipe Kit/goody bag , that contains a recipe and then all the ingredients individually portioned. You could get a member of staff to demonstrate the recipe and then give the Kit/good bags for young people to go home to their flats and try it for themselves.....

"Eat anything you like day" - another great idea from Painswick Inn. Painswick In n have asked young people to think of one single food that they would like to try and have teamed up with their local Waitrose to make it happen.It is rumoured that Lobster may well get on the menu for a few young people curious to try it out .........

We learnt a lot from Lisa this week about integrating healthy eating into all kinds of projects that are not necessarily "health projects". try integrating a healthy breakfast or lunch into learning programmes at your Foyer. Also get healthy menu preparation on the agenda for any outward bound/Princes Trust programmes you run.

FARESHARES

We also heard about the success of FARESHARES food distribution scheme in some areas. FareShare is the national charity working to relieve food poverty by providing quality food and other support services to organisations working with disadvantaged people in the community.

Find out more about Fareshare at their website below and also check for a local project near you. Meanwhile we will check out some of your concerns.
http://www.fareshare.org.uk/local/index.html

http://www.fareshare.org.uk/index.html

Food Policies
We had some discussion this week about the value of establishing a food policy for Foyers to guide practice. Developing a food policy is one of the standards in the healthy eating accreditation standards for Foyers that Year One foyers will be working towards.

I will be tracking down a an example workplace policy ..but in the meantime here are two links to schools food policy guidance and templates

http://www.sustainweb.org/pdf/G5_MFPol.pdf

http://foodinschools.datacenta.uk.net/

Healthy catering guidelines
http://www.nwph.net/food_health/Taskforce_Publications/Forms/Detail%20View.aspx

The North West Food and Health Task Force

A useful website with lots of guidance documents
http://www.nwph.net/food_health/default.aspx

more soon .........bye for now
Nerys

Foyer Health Blog - Happy Blogging!

2008-03-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Foyer Health BlogThis blog is designed to get you started on your Foyer Health Programme, and offers guidance, resources, advice and a space to exchange ideas and find out new information. It offers guidance on key project management areas like monitoring, branding and publicity as well as lots of resources and information on our key themes of healthy eating, physical activity and mental well-being.

This blog is a starting point, and the aim is to add in new ideas and information throughout the year. So, any good ideas you have, resources you find or create, can be shared with other Foyers.We want to provide effective ways of sharing information across the network, and getting up to date information to you without clogging up your inbox! To this end we have set up the blog that will be a conduit of updates, information, downloads and discussion.

Lucy Billings is our new Projects Assistant and will be the first point of contact for all general enquiries you can contact her on lucy@foyer.net Tel: 0207 430 2212. There is also an email address for the programme.

Please use this for any queries and bookings for life coaching training, venues, Foyer Health Network Meetings and all general enquiries health@foyer.net

Enjoy!

Foyer Health Champions

2008-03-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

Foyer Health is an exciting three year programme to increase the skills, resources and opportunities that disadvantaged young people have to make a healthy transition to adulthood.

There are three themes to the programme: healthy eating, physical activity and mental well-being. Foyer Health is funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Well-being programme and managed by the Foyer Federation.

Foyer Health has four key areas:
1. Young people will be supported to choose and achieve a health and well-being goal through one to one support from a member of staff that has been on a life coaching skills training programme.
2. Young people will have opportunities to experience a range of healthy living activities through taster sessions on healthy eating, physical activity and mental well-being.
3. Every Foyer will develop a specialist project on one of the following: healthy eating (Year One), physical activity (Year Two) or mental well-being (Year Three).
4. Foyer Health will also enable 120 Foyers in England to achieve specialist health accreditation standards that will ensure that every Foyer is a healthy place to live, work and learn.

The Health Champion
The Health Champion role is to lead and co-ordinate the Foyer Health programme in each Foyer.
Areas of responsibility include:

Establishing and co-ordinating a Health Action Team that includes at least 2 young people, and may involve other staff, managers, board members and relevant outside agencies.
Engaging and supporting young people to participate in planning, designing, delivering and evaluating the programme.
The Health Action team will develop the planned activities for your Foyer Health programme in consultation with young people. Once ideas are developed for taster sessions and your healthy eating programme, the Health Champion along with the Health Action team puts these plans into action and evaluates the outcomes.
The Health Champion will lead and co-ordinate each Foyer in working towards the Foyer Health Accreditation Standards (core health standards plus specialist healthy eating standards). This will require auditing your current provision, engaging young people in assessing the current service, taking any action needed to for the Foyer to meet the standards, and collecting evidence to demonstrate how the standard has been met. The healthy eating standards must be met by the end of year One (Nov 08) and the core health standards by the end of 2009.
The Health Champion takes the lead in promoting the Foyer Health programme to young people and staff in the Foyer service and in partner agencies.
They Health Champion creates new partnerships with external agencies to increase young people’s access to local health resources and/or develops existing partnership working.
The Health Champion co-ordinates input from other Foyer staff, partner agencies, Foyer Federation Healthy Eating Ambassadors, and other sessional workers and may lead some of the planned activities
Depending on how your Foyer chooses to manage the programme, the Health Champion may be responsible for collating the quarterly monitoring forms to be returned to the Foyer Federation to ensure continues funding.
The Health Champion leads and co-ordinates the input of the Foyer into the evaluation of Foyer Health. This may involve collecting case studies, maintaining evidence of activities, getting feedback from young people.

Opportunities for Health Champions
Health Champions will have access to range of opportunities to support their role and for professional development through attending quarterly Foyer Health Network meetings/workshops, access to peer support and practice sharing with other Foyers, external specialist speakers and specialist input from Health Eating Ambassadors.

British Nutrition Foundation Food Life Skills Programme

2008-02-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

The British Nutrition Foundation Food Life Skills courses enables you to develop your own structured food skills/cooking course with young people (aged 14-19 years). The teachers' guide can be found along with an introduction here.
http://www.nutrition.org.uk/

Modules to download
Moule One, Module Two, Module Three, Module Four, Module Five, Module Six, Module Seven, Module Eight, Module Nine, Module Ten, Module Eleven, Module Twelve, Module Thirteen

Presentations can be downloaded below to be used in your sessions.
Budgeting
Healthier Cooking Practices
Food Safety
Healthier Eating
Personal Hygiene
Food Labelling

Download the Life Skills Programme Certificate here.

Recipes
Try some of these tasty recipes neatly laid out in handy powerpoint presentations.
Basic Tomato Sauce
Bubble and Squeak
Chicken or Tofu Stir-fry
Cauliflower Cheese
Fish Pie
Fruit Jelly
Fruit Pancakes
Fruit Salad
Fruity Flapjacks
Haloumi and Vegetable Kebabs
Healthy Fry Up
Herby Mash
Homemade Burgers
Hummus, pepper and grated carrot pockets
Lentil and Pepper Bake
Layered Salad
Mixed Vegetables
Noodles
Porridge
Parmesan and Chicken Nuggets
Quiche
Lamb Rogan Josh
Ratatouille
Roasted Vegetables
Salmon Fish Fingers
Spicy Wedges
Smoothie
Tandoori Chicken
Tortilla Toastie
Vegetable Cous Cous
Tomato Soup
Roasted Butter Nut Squash Risotto

Mental Health and Well-being Resources

2008-02-08T06:01:00.000-08:00

What is Mental Health?

Alcohol
How much alcohol is too much?

Alcohol Awareness Poster

Promoting Mental Well-being

Ideas from young people on promoting mental well-being.

Key indicators of promoting mental well-being

Check out these guides from Mind, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales.

http://www.mind.org.uk/

How to cope with relationship problems?

How to improve your mental well-being?

How to stop worrying?

Coping with sleep problems

How to look after yourself?

The Mind Guide to managing stress

How to deal with anger

How to cope with student life

How to increase your self esteem

Learning to cope with exam stress

How to assert yourself

Posters and Practical Resources

Looking after yourself poster - http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

Mental Health - Blood, Sweat, No Tears poster - http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

Retracking Folder

Resources for teachers - NHS Surrey

Ideas from Foyer residents around mental well-being

Mental Health Issues

Understanding Mental Illness

About Self Harm

How to cope with panic attacks

Understanding Depression

Street Drugs 2007

Understanding Anxiety

Eating Distress

Understanding Psychotic Experiences

Department of Health - Promoting Well-being For People At Risk Of Mental Health Problems

Online Resources on Mental Well-being

Young Minds www.youngminds.org.uk
The leading national charity on mental health and children and young people. Have online information for young people, professionals and parents. Excellent leaflets on coping with being a teenager, coping at schools, self harm, depression and more.

Royal College of Psychaitrists

www.rcpsych.ac.uk
The website includes online factsheets for teachers and students on subjects including bereavement, eating problems, depression, divorce, and stress. A new CD ROM teaching resource is also available Self Harm and Young People

Self Harm
Website of the national inquiry into self harm and young people. Useful information sheets for teachers and families and good links section. Up to date research on the issue.

http://www.selfharmuk.org/

Mental Health Foundation www.mentalhealth.org.uk
The Mental Health Foundation works to improve the lives of everyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

Samaritans www.samaritans.org.uk
Provides an email advice service and telephone helpline 08457 90 90 90 and lots of useful information and advice about mental health.

MIND www.mind.org.uk

BBC www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health

Site giving information on mental health

Depression Alliance www.depressionalliance.org
Charity for those affected by depression

Eating Disorders Association www.edauk.com
Information and help on all aspects of eating disorders.

Changing Minds www.changingminds.co.ukAnti-stigma campaign by Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Be...foundation www.be-foundation.org
Aims to offer a comprehensive source of help and information on youth suicide and deliberate self-harm.

Rethink www.rethink.org
Rethink aims to help everyone affected by severe mental illness to recover a better quality of life.

Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health www.scmh.org.uk

Healthy Schools www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk

Antidote: Campaign for Emotional Literacy www.antidote.org.uk
Antidote aims to create an emotionally literate culture, where the ability to handle emotional life is as widespread as the capacity to read, write and do arithmetic.

Lucky Duck Publishing
www.luckyduck.co.uk
The creators of the no blame approach to bullying.

National Emotional Literacy Interest Group www.nelig.com
The site aims to promote and resource emotional literacy defined as, "the ability to recognise, understand, handle and appropriately express emotions" for both young people and adults. It includes articles and signposting to useful teaching resources on emotional literacy that may be of use to teachers.

Very useful guidelines and resources on promoting emotional literacy in schools including books for children and emotions vocabulary available to download from:

http://www.nelig.com/pdf/selig_guidelines.pdf

Youth In Mind http://www.youthinmind.com/

Check out http://www.ru-ok.com/ - a site set up to support learning mentors and teachers

Bullying
Bullying Online www.bullying.co.uk
This website provides help and advice on bullying issues for pupils, parents, governors and teachers. It also includes legal advice, school projects and suggestions for work in class and youth clubs.
Kidscape www.kidscape.org.uk
Kidscape is a registered charity that aims to keep children safe from harm or abuse. The site includes advice for young people and parents who are being bullied as well as publications and leaflets produced by the organisation.

Anti-Bullying Alliance www.ncb.org.uk/aba

Other Useful Publications
Nurturing Emotional Literacy – Peter Sharp
A practical guide for teachers, parents and those in a caring profession. This book helps to recognise, understand, handle and appropriately express their emotions. How we manage our emotions and positive impact that emotional literacy can have on improving standards in schools has been overshadowed recently by the attention given to the 3 R’s. This handbook seeks to redress this and looks at the importance of the fourth R – relationship. Specific ideas for working with children, teachers, parents and carers, makes this book ideal for all concerned with developing the whole child.

Brand and Communication Guidelines

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Here are the Brand and Communication Guidelines for Foyer Health.

To obtain the original artwork for logos for design purposes please email laura@foyer.net

Physical Activity Resources

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Why is exercise so important? Here are the answers.

Why not have your own physical activity diary? Or a Weekly Activity Planner

Try out our Physical Activity Quiz

Some other resources you migth want to use:

Mind Guide to Physical Activity - http://www.mind.org.uk/

Get Active Resource Book

Ideas for young people

Web Guide to Physical Activity

Ideas from Foyers

Briefing Paper on Physical Activity from the British Nutrition Foundation

Physical Activity Questionnaire

Monitoring your Foyer Health Programme

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Monitoring your Foyer Health programme is an essential requirement of your Foyer Health Partnership Agreement.

Ongoing payments from the Big Lottery Fund to the Foyer Federation, and therefore, payment from the Foyer Federation to your Foyer, are dependent on successful delivery of your targets, which are evidenced by the monitoring information you provide.
We are required to provide quarterly monitoring reports to the Big Lottery Fund, and so will require you to provide quarterly reports to us.

Some of the evaluation tools are still under development in consultation with Foyers, but here are a selection of resources to help you with your monitoring opportunities:

This Monitoring Overview will help make the importance of monitoring clear, as well as some of the benefits of monitoring.

Foyer Health Monitoring Form

Foyer Health Beneficiaries Details Form

Monitoring Form for Wider Beneficiaries

Foyer Health Accreditation Standards

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An important part of the Foyer Health programme is to pilot and achieve health accreditation standards. This is an essential part of ensuring that Foyers become healthy places to live, learn and work beyond the three years of the Big Lottery funding. It is also an exciting opportunity to lead the way in creating a new framework for a healthy setting in Foyers, alongside the National Healthy Schools Scheme, Healthy Colleges, healthy hospitals and prisons and healthy workplace initiatives.

Here is some more information about Foyer Health Accreditation Standards

Core Health Standards
Specialist Accreditation Module for Healthy Eating
Foyer Health Accreditation Standards
Foyer Health spacialist Accreditation Module Worksheet

For further information contact nerys@foyer.net

Foyer Health Launch Events

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Fancy making a fuss about Foyer Health? Well, what are you waiting for....
Put on your glad rags, put up the bunting and get the party started.

To make your launch event go with a bang try using these resources for your taster sessions:

Proforma for planning and evaluating your taster sessions and launch events.
Taster Session signing in sheet
Taster Session Evaluation Form for young people

Foyer Health Resources

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We have put together a whole host of resources to accompany Foyer Health, and to help support you. We have also found some resources provided by other organisations which we think will be useful.

Setting Healthy Eating Goals and keeping a Food Diary.

Set some healthy eating goals. And try using this Five a Day Chart

Why not try keeping a Food Diary? Fill out Your Food Diary here.

Why not try setting yourself some healthy eating goals? Or check out some of these healthy eating ideas from young people.

Try some ideas for healthy catering and use a healthy catering checklist.

Resources from organisations committed to supporting health and well-being.

Department of Health 'Five A Day' Leaflet
www.dh.gov.uk

Five A Day Order Form for accompanying resources from the NHS

The Mind Guide to Food and Health, from leading mental health charity, Mind.
http://www.mind.org.uk/

The British Heart Foundation's 'Food Should Be Fun and Healthy' booklet.
www.bhf.org.uk

Community Cook and Eat Training

Norwich Union's 'Cook and Eat Toolkit'

British Nutrition Foundation's 'Healthy Eating Leaflet'

Department of Health Healthy Eating Plan