Team puts unhealthy families on the mend

Photo: Picture: ANTHONY MILLER

HEALTHY living: the MEND team (from left), Roma Hashim, James Wainwright, Adele Stanton, team leader Emma Haman, Katie McLaren, Neil Wise and Dale Newton

A TEAM which makes a big effort to keep families healthy is in the running for a Pride in Oldham award.

Emma Haman and her team run the Mind, Exercise, Nutrition . . . Do it programme (MEND), which is delivered by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.

The 10-week scheme, which aims to keep families at a healthy weight and teach them about healthy living, was recognised with a national award earlier this year.

Val Little, a clinical network manager with the NHS, nominated the team for the innovative way in which it reaches out to families and in the fun way in which they do it.

She said: “The whole team has had so much success with the project that they really do deserve to win. It’s a great award-winning scheme.”

The scheme is a chance for local families with children aged seven-13 to learn about nutrition and how to maintain a balanced diet, as well as taking part in fun games and activities.

The free course, which was developed in partnership with child health experts at Great Ormond Street Hospital, also includes a visit to the local supermarket where the children and their parents learn how to read food labels.

Emma, MEND programme manager for Pennine Care, said she was pleased to be nominated.

“We all lead such hectic lives that eating healthily can sometimes drop off the priority list. At MEND, families learn how they can make small changes to get back on a healthier track.

“Our aims is to make sure that as children over a healthy weight grow taller, they grow leaner and their BMI is reduced.

“It’s not just about eating healthily, it’s about having a healthy lifestyle and helping to grow children’s confidence as well.

“We often have families coming back after 12 months and we see a great improvement in their lifestyle and diet.”