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The Healthy Lives Team Families update contains helpful information and activities for your whole school community
This is the FAMILIES newsletter from The Healthy Lives Team. Every month, on the first or second Friday, we share relevant information, activities and resources to support your families ongoing health and wellbeing.
The HEALTHY LIVES TEAM supports schools, pupils and families with everything to do with health and wellbeing. We want to help you to live fitter, healthier and happier lives.
We now have a Healthy Lives Team webpage where you can find out more about the team and access Healthy Schools resources and all our archived newsletters.
Draft Department for Education (DfE) guidance and consultation on gender questioning children
In December 2023, the Department for Education (DfE) published its draft non-statutory guidance for Schools and Colleges on Gender Questioning Children. The draft includes guidance and practical support for schools and colleges on ‘supporting children who are questioning their gender’, ‘protecting pupils from bullying or abuse’ and ‘maintaining child safety and wellbeing’.
The DfE is now seeking views, as part of a 12-week consultation, which closes at 11:59pm on 12th March 2024. They welcome views from organisations such as charities, schools/colleges and individuals including Governors, parents and students.
Youth Out East LGBTQ+ Zoom meetings (12-18 year olds)
February is LGBT History Month in the UK. Elop's Youth Out East Youth Groups for LGBTQ+ young people aged 12-18 offers a free, safe, inclusive and affirmative space to make friends, take part in fun activities and share experiences with other LGBTQ+ young people. As well as making friends, young people can join discussions, activities and have fun with other LGBTQ+ young people.
The sessions run every Tuesday evening on Zoom (online) at the following times:
- 5:00-6:30PM (for 12 -15 year olds)
- 7:00-8:30PM (for 15 - 18 year olds)
A young person can refer themselves to the youth service, or you can refer on their behalf to join the sessions. To make a referral, email youth@elop.org or call 07720 461 158 Mon-Fri during office hours.
Youth Theatre: ages 5 – 18 (25 for SEND)
Location: Half Moon Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, E1 0ND
Cost: Youth Theatre sessions are £6 and they offer a concessionary rate of £3 per session.
The Youth Theatre groups are perfect for young people who are interested in drama, exploring theatre, and building their skills. Over each 10 week term the groups create a performance for family and friends to watch, whilst building their confidence and engaging with their peers. These take place at the Half Moon, where their weekly sessions and performances at the end of term take place in the theatre.
FREE After School drama Clubs for young people in school years 7-9
The drama clubs run in three accessible community spaces around Tower Hamlets, so are perfect for those who live further from Half Moon Theatre. These targeted groups act as an early intervention for vulnerable young people and use drama to build confidence, make friends and creatively engage with their peers. Each term the young people explore topics which are relevant to them and create a 'sharing', which families and friends are invited to watch in an informal setting. The clubs run in the following locations:
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Monday: Harford Centre, 115 Harford Street, E1 4FG, 4.30pm – 6.30pm
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Wednesday: Granby Community Centre, 37 St Matthew’s Row, E2 6DT, 4.30pm – 6.30pm
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Thursday: The Reach Community Centre, 11 Oliphant Street, E14 0GB, 4.30pm – 6.30pm
To request a place on the FREE after school club, please send the details of the family member to malachi@halfmoon.org.uk, Tel: 0207 709 8905, so that they can get in touch directly. A family member will need to complete registration form too, but Malachi and their team can help with this over the phone if that’s helpful.
FREE Transitions into Secondary School programme for schools (4 locations around the borough)
This targeted programme is for children in Year 6, who will be moving to secondary school in September 2024. Children will be offered FREE after school clubs from June, a free summer school and then free after school drama clubs until they are in year 9. Children will engage with critical thinking and decision making through drama. Please show this opportunity to your child's teacher to follow up.
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Monday: Bernie Cameron, 32 Merchant St, Bow, London E3 4LX , 4:00pm – 6:00pm, 10th June – 8th July.
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Tuesday: The Reach, 11 Oliphant St, London E14 0GB, 4:00pm – 6:00pm, 11th June – 9th July.
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Wednesday: Sundial, 11 Shipton St, London E2 7RU, 4:00pm – 6:00pm, 12th June – 10th July.
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Thursday: Half Moon Theatre, 43 White Horse Rd, Greater, London E1 0ND, 4:00pm – 6:00pm, 13th June – 11th July
The Department for Public Health in Tower Hamlets is seeking your help – to gain insight of residents who self-identify as ‘white other’
Tower Hamlets Department for Public Health is seeking your help in identifying the health and social care needs of Tower Hamlets residents who self-identify ethnicity as ‘white other’:
- It will take no more than 30 minutes of your time
- Conversations will be held over the phone or via Microsoft Teams
- Conversations will be at a time of your choosing
- You will be offered a £15 Love2shop gift voucher
To participate, please contact:
Dr Cyril Eshareturi
Tel: 07759303286
Email: Cyril.Eshareturi@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Mile End Parkrun
What is Mile End parkrun?
A free, fun, friendly, weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you!
When is it?
Every Saturday at 9:00am.
Where is it?
The event takes place at Mile End park. A link to the course and map is provided below.
What does it cost to join in?
Nothing - it's free! Please register before you first come along. Only ever register with parkrun once and please don't forget to bring a scannable copy of your barcode. If you forget it, you won't get a time. Request a reminder of your barcode below.
How fast do I have to be?
All participants take part for their own enjoyment. Please come along and join in whatever your pace!
Mile End parkrun needs you!
It is entirely organised by volunteers - email mileend@parkrun.com if you would like to help.
We're friendly!
Every week participants can grab a post parkrun coffee in a local café - everyone is welcome!
 Parents Survey - Help to redesign the Youth Service
- Tower Hamlets Council is investing £13.7 million into developing an exciting new youth service, 'Young Tower Hamlets', for young people aged from 11-19 and up to 25 with SEND across the borough.
- The council are seeking the views of parents, carers and caregivers and would like to know what you think the new Youth Service should offer young people and what that offer should look like.
- There have been 196 responses from parents so far...
Raising awareness of testicular health problems in boys and young men
The North East London Cancer Alliance is funding a project aimed at raising awareness of testicular health problems that can be experienced by boys and young men. Testicular cancer rates start to rise in the mid-teens, while testicular torsion (twisting) rates start to rise even younger, at around age 11. Both conditions can be treated easily if diagnosed early but can become more serious if left for too long before medical intervention, potentially resulting in the removal of a testicle and/or advanced cancer.
The project aims to reach all boys in North East London with NHS-approved testicular health education, and would like parents and carers to be aware too, so that you know what to do if your son raises any concerns with you. Please look at www.testicularhealth.info to find out more about what to look out for and when to seek medical help – early intervention makes a big difference.
The Healthy Steps Programme has launched -NHS
Healthy Steps is a FREE 8-week email programme from the NHS aimed at families with children aged 5-11. It encourages families to eat better, move more and provides practical ideas, whilst still being budget conscious. You can sign up at any time by completing a short quiz about your current eating and physical activity habits, once complete you will receive tailored emails on reducing sugar, eating 5-a-day and meal planning. Families can also set goals or tasks for themselves to support their progress.
Healthy Start – free healthy food and vitamins
If you have children between the ages of 0-4, you may be eligible to access money for healthy food and milk. Healthy Start has switched from paper vouchers to card that can be used in the same way as a bank card. If you used to receive Healthy Start vouchers, you’ll need to reapply.
If you’re pregnant or have a child under the age of four in Tower Hamlets, you can also collect free vitamins from a Children’s and Family Centre.
 "Nothing can dim the light which shines from within"
Maya Angelou
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The Healthy Lives Team
The Healthy Lives Team want to support you with all aspects of health and wellbeing. We will be sending you regular newsletters that will be relevant whether you are at school, work, or at home.
Please feel free to share this email.
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We are incredibly proud in Tower Hamlets to have supported schools to gain more Healthy Schools awards than any other borough in London. So please use this newsletter in whatever way suits you best to stay as fit and healthy as possible.
If you're in a school, please share this newsletter using your social media or website using the following share button, or you can click the hyperlink in the top right corner of this email:
Subscribing to this newsletter
Just to let you know, you're receiving this because you have either opted in to get emails from the council relating to children and education, or you are one of the Healthy Lives team's regular contacts, or you may also have been forwarded this email from your school.
If you or anyone you know would like to sign up to this newsletter, please use the following link.
Take care,
The Healthy Lives team at London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Useful links
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