Nutrition Network for Wales Case Study
Project Name:
Rhyl Football Club Healthy Eating Scheme
Contact Details:
Name: Malcolm Jackson, Commercial Director
Email: malcolmjackson@rhylfc.co.uk
Phone: 01745 388327
Introduction:
Rhyl Football Club recognised they could help deliver healthy lifestyle
messages within the local community. The Commercial Director set up the
Healthy Eating Scheme and has worked with Denbighshire County Council in
developing it. The scheme is presently open to schools in Rhyl and Prestatyn.
Players are used as role models, to encourage the children to eat healthier and
live a more active lifestyle. Local school children are invited to the club for a
tour of the ground, dressing rooms and hospitality areas. The children are told
how the players prepare for matches, including their diet and fruit and water
are given out. Dietitians talk to the children about healthy eating. The children
are encouraged to eat 5 pieces of fruit and vegetables per day and do the
recommended 5 x 30 minutes of activity each week.
Funding:
The scheme is funded mostly by the budget of the Football Club with support
from Rhyl Town Council.
It started in November 2005 and is ongoing.
What do you feel the main achievements of the project have been to date?
The main achievement of the project is that it has shown that football is a very
useful tool for getting the healthy living message across, the children respond
well to the players as role models. The scheme complements PSE and PE in the
curriculum.
The scheme has been well received by the children who have taken part,
showing it is accessible and fun. The club has received dozens of letters and
cards giving thanks for the opportunity and stating how much has been gained
from it.
The Commercial Director completed an OCN Level 2 course in Food and
Nutrition Skills which enables a consistent message to be given and for the
scheme to have credibility.
Has the project encountered any difficulties and what lessons have been
learned?
When the scheme was set up the club did not have the necessary contacts or
resources and searching for funding was difficult.
Meeting the demand from schools to join the scheme has also been difficult at
times due to limitations of staffing.
From this it can be learnt that when setting up a scheme it is important to gain
local contacts at the County Council and other key partners.
How do you see the project continuing in the future?
This scheme is part of Rhyl Football Clubs ongoing commitment to supporting
and developing the community this includes:
 Setting up football in the community and a corresponding healthy living
scheme
 Setting up a study centre within the Football Club with IT facilities that
are available for the community to use.
The focus is on using football as a medium for community cohesion and healthy
living. The Commercial Director is currently exploring funding opportunities to
enable this to become a reality.