Since May 2017, Public Health Dorset has been working with the Dorset Head Teacher Alliance (HTA), to design and develop a project which builds on the strong evidence for physical activity improving attainment, achievement and emotional wellbeing.
The HTA presented evidence for taking a 'whole school approach' to the county's Health and Wellbeing Board and was successful in securing over £324,000 investment from the Public Health 'Prevention at Scale' programme.
In January this year, 60 schools from across the county began to implement bespoke projects to address low level mental health concerns for their children and young people – all championing physical activity as a means to do this. The project is expected to reach over 24,000 children and young people in Dorset.
Active Dorset played a key role as a founding member of the Dorset Head Teacher Alliance Group which was the conduit for the investment by Public Health Dorset. Their role in delivering the programme centered around the following:
- Logic model design
- Evaluation tool design
- Providing a platform to launch the project
- Application assessment and selection
- Capturing evidence through interview and film
- Providing a platform to share good practice
All of the above was in conjunction with the project workgroup.