Evaluation Results Now Published
Innovation in health education helping children ride ups and downs of life, study shows
A new study by the University of the West of England (UWE, Bristol) into work going on in Gloucestershire schools shows that young people are becoming more responsible for looking after their own health. Facts4Life is …… (Read more)
What is Facts4Life?
A new way of thinking about our health which challenges commonly held beliefs about illness and builds resilience. We do this by exploring three key ideas:
- Riding the Ups and Downs – sometimes we feel well, sometimes not. That’s normal.
- Keeping Balanced – we often don’t recognise that most of the time, most of us get better from most illnesses without medical help
- Smoothing the Path – we can learn to take greater responsibility for our health and respond positively to life’s challenges
A training programme and resource that provides opportunities to learn more about physical and mental health within the curriculum. We also provide training and resources for primary teachers in Relationships and Sex Education which incorporate the core ideas of our approach.
We are currently funded by Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and are part of an initiative to reduce unnecessary demand on vital health services. Training and resources are currently free to Gloucestershire schools and we are establishing links with other authorities, CCGs and schools who would like to become involved in this innovative approach to health resilience. Please contact us if you would like to know more.
Why Facts4Life?
We live in a climate where many worry about health and we often assume that perfect health is attainable. These unrealistic expectations can lead to the idea that medical services should be able to step in and fix us whenever we feel unwell.
We believe that if we have developed the language to talk about our experience of health and illness, we are then able to take greater ownership of the factors that affect us. We can not only build understanding but develop positive attitudes and change behaviour.
Never has there been a better time to open up the dialogue for young people, families and the wider community.
What Facts4Life offers...
The delivery of the training was really slick and focussed. I was fascinated by the ‘Sciencey’ bit at the start of the presentation as it put the Facts4Life work in context. The presence of a GP and Paediatrician gave the programme credibility. It was a great starting point for us to re-think our PSHCE programme with current up to date thinking and issues that relate to the children of today.
Lynne BaileyI feel having Facts4Life’s comprehensive health education program is such an important part of the curriculum… in order to help prevent illness and promote healthy living.
Mrs Marie Mason-Peake
I think the most interesting part for me was when we learnt how to fight some of the diseases and the common cold and a lot of those things because it could help me in the rest of my life so I don’t get the worst part of it.
KS2 StudentWhen I heard Hugh van’t Hoff’s presentation about the initial evaluation of the programme and the outcomes, I was completely blown away. The only positive, constructive idea on solving the NHS’s problems in a positive and preventative way that I have heard in my entire 40 year career in Medicine.
Dr Thornton MacCallumFacts4Life News and Social Media....
Facts4Life Latest
Press Release: Innovation in health education helping children ride ups and downs of life, study shows
Innovation in health education helping children ride ups and downs of life, study shows A new study by the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) into work going on in Gloucestershire schools shows that young people are becoming more responsible for looking...
Facts4Life is great. But where can I fit it in?
The Facts4Life resources are proving to be very popular amongst schools in Gloucestershire. As well as central training courses which are attended by one or two members of staff from a school, we are also getting many requests to do whole staff training, often with...
Radio 4 Inside Health today – Enlightenment not Entitlement
Enlightenment not Entitlement. Today we are on BBC Radio 4’s Inside Health programme at 9pm being interviewed by Dr Mark Porter.
Facts4Life Blogs
Facts4Life on Being Mortal
August is the time to stop, recharge the batteries and catch up on some reading. That may include some light distraction, but a book that really chimes is one that reflects your ideals, teaches you something new, and sheds more light on what it is to be human. Atul...
Young people endorse Facts4Life’s approach to mental health and illness
Facts4Life is about mental as well as physical health and illness – in fact, the two are inextricably linked. For example, eating and sleeping well are very important for mental health, and psychological stress has a big impact on physical wellbeing. The Facts4Life...
Facts4Life pilot in schools – teaching children grey
I never realised when I started to think of ways to teach about illness more than 20 years ago how long it would take for the idea to begin to take hold. But it has, finally. We started in earnest about 9 years ago with an after school project at Rednock School...