Clifton with Rawcliffe have been involved in the PhunkyFoods ambassador scheme from 2016-2017 and two Year 5 pupils have been successfully trained and have completed the programme. They worked with 90 Year 2 pupils on the ‘Strive for Five’ intervention and they carried out an initial survey, organised and led two assemblies and completed two intervention activities. They also collected and were involved in analysing the end of intervention survey results. This project has given the two ambassadors such a wonderful opportunity to develop their leadership skills and their confidence, they have enthusiastically thought about how to engage their audience, even braving some fruit and vegetable costumes for one assembly! The work of the girls has had a huge impact on a large number of children, as they were able to work with three classes and their surveys prove that they have positively impacted on the younger children’s knowledge of different fruits and vegetables, how many they should be eating a day and how they might make healthy choices or changes to improve their diet. The work of the girls has also extended to parents at the school, as they set a competition to raise awareness of healthy eating to be done at home and gave parents information by writing them a letter. Information about the PhunkyFoods ambassador programme has been shared within the phase the girls were working in and also in their own phase, where they have presented an assembly to recruit the next year’s ambassadors. They have also made a display of their work in school. The programme has enabled them to mentor younger children, raise awareness of healthy living across the school and develop a range of cross curricular skills in the process e.g. working out costings of activities, contacting companies for prizes, writing a letter to inform parents, researching their subject using the Phunky Foods website and online resources and learning from Judith Catchpole, who has played a very active role in the project within the school. Judith has guided the girls with timescales, supported them to think about costings, provided resources for them to use in assemblies, directed them to online information and provided ongoing mentoring and support. She is a familiar face within the school and has been an enormous support to the ambassadors, always encouraging their ideas while ensuring that she improves their subject knowledge.
One challenge to the programme has been obtaining funding for activities to be carried out in school, this has been addressed for the next academic year so that this does not become a barrier to the programme’s success. It is also important that the lead teacher for the programme is available to meet regularly. Judith’s excellent communication ensures that the teacher is kept informed of the timescales and next steps for the programme and she sets up meetings to ensure that the programme runs smoothly.
CWR feel very priveledged to have trialled the programme and we are excited about the 2017-18 programme, the new ambassadors are currently being trained by Judith and the ambassadors from last year.
Gemma Robinson, Clifton with Rawcliffe