Healthy Schools Food Advisor: Tom White
Date: 19 Mar 2010
Healthy Schools Food Advisor: Tom White
I’ve recently joined the Healthy Schools Team as the Healthy Schools Food Advisor. I will be working with Angela Milliken (Healthy Schools Programme Manager) on the Healthy Schools Plus Pilot and the Healthy Schools Enhancement.
My background is in Sport Science and Public Health. I attended Exeter University for 4 years, achieving a BSc and an MSc. I have been with the Healthy Schools Team since early January on a part time basis (2 days a week). My other jobs within the council are Change4Life Project Manager and MEND Programme Leader.
In my capacity as Healthy Schools Food Advisor I will be aiming to assist schools that are trying to gain Healthy Schools Plus or Enhancement Status. I will do this by helping schools to set up projects around the Healthy Weight Priority. These projects could focus on healthy eating, sustainable food, increasing the uptake of free school meals, increasing active travel to school, increasing curricular physical activity or increasing extra curricular physical activity. I will be particularly emphasising and supporting schools through the evaluation process of these projects to enable a comprehensive review of them.
The Change4Life project has plenty of crossover with my Healthy Schools role and I will be using the resources to help schools in some instances. The project will enable you access to lots of free resources and is a great way to help publicise Healthy Weight in your school. Please take a look at the section about Change4Life on this website and also have a look at the central (national) page.
My work with the MEND programme gives an excellent insight into working with overweight children and their families. It also keeps me up to date with current issues around Healthy Weight and gives me a good base of contacts for signposting those children who need extra help with their weight.
I look forward to working with you in the near future!
I can be contacted at twhite2@swindon.gov.uk or tel: 01793 464676.
