The Growing Healthy project aims to encourage pupils to adopt a healthy lifestyle through participation in practical food growing projects in school.

OASES secured funding to support schools in setting up their own healthy food growing projects working in partnership with the Lead for Health and Wellbeing at Durham County Council Achievement Services.

The objective of Growing Healthy is not simply to teach children about healthy eating but also to engage them in healthy physical activity through the process of developing and maintaining a school ‘plot’.

OASES are supporting Growing Healthy schools to establish sustainable food growing projects by

• Giving practical advice and support to develop and run school gardens.
• Supporting the development of a Growing Healthy Team to sustain the project in the future.
• Supporting teaching staff to use the school garden to deliver aspects of the National Curriculum as well as extracurricular clubs
• Build Garden Club leaders and volunteers skills through assisted garden club sessions.
• Giving guidance on recruitment and support of volunteers.
• Giving advice on accessing funding and in kind donations for growing and gardening projects.

Recruitment for 2012-13 is now closed. OASES will be working with 5 primary schools from across County Durham.

For further details contact OASES on 03000 260535