Healthy Food for All Conference 2015 Siobhán Mc Brearty Who are we ? • NYCI is the representative body for national voluntary youth work organisations in Ireland. • The National Youth Health Programme is a partnership between Health Service Executive, Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the National Youth Council of Ireland. National Youth Health Programme (NYHP) • To build the health promotion capacity and sustainability of health promotion in the youth sector – Strategic Development – Operational Development ©National Youth Council of Ireland, National Youth Health Programme - 2014 NYHP Programme Strategic Delivery • Inform and influence public policy: – Advocating for the adoption and implementation of evidence-based and evidence-informed policies and actions which promote healthier lifestyle choices and behaviour amongst young people – Influencing national policy in the main areas dealing with young people’s health Operational Delivery • • Build the knowledge, skills and capacity of youth organisations and the youth sector to deliver, promote and inform on health promotion practice across the sector. Recognise and value the needs of our members through developing specific issue based health promotion interventions and programmes supported by resource development and training. ©National Youth Council of Ireland, National Youth Health Programme - 2014 Opportunities to address food poverty in the youth sector • • • • Context for this work Examples of good practice Associated challenges Supports needed? Context for this work? The Government commits to: • Tackle the issues of childhood obesity and obesogenic environments through a mix of legislative, policy and public awareness activities and will give active consideration to the introduction of fiscal measures to support healthy lifestyles in the context of the annual budgetary process. (Action 1.1, BOBF) • Support children, young people and their parents to make healthier choices through education, addressing food poverty and ensuring that all educational and state institutions providing food and drink to children, whether directly or through franchised commercial services on-site, have a Healthy Foods policy and provide food that meets basic nutritional standards. (Action 1.2, BOBF) Context • Healthy Ireland Theme 3 - Empowering People and Communities 3.4 Support, link with and further improve existing partnerships, strategies and initiatives that aim to improve the capacity of parents, carers and families to support healthier choices for their children and themselves. How do we support youth orgs? • Promoting a whole organisational approach Health Quality Mark • Capacity building Food for Thought Conference Connected Communities Initiative • Resource development Promoting Health in Youth Sector HEAL Manual Overcoming the challenges • • • • • Adopting a positive strengths based approach Measuring our impact Partnership working Strategic focus vs quick wins Achieving sustainable change Future opportunities for addressing food poverty in the youth sector ? Suggestions welcome Thank You ******** www.youthhealth.ie [email protected] / [email protected]