A life-saving initiative from Cumbria County Council has been recognised in a top national awards scheme.
The county council's Headstart scheme which provides cut price cycle helmets to thousands of children in Cumbria won second place in the child safety category of prestigious Health for Kids Awards.
The awards recognising national best practice were presented by Olympic champion Sally Gunnell OBE at a special presentation in London.
The Health for Kids Awards, in association with the Department of Health & Department for Children, Schools and Families' National Healthy Schools Programme and Sport England, presented twelve awards to schools, voluntary organisations and community groups. Each initiative was highlighted for their outstanding contribution across a range of child health including; safety, personal and social health, healthy eating, physical activity and emotional health and wellbeing.
The Headstart campaign is part of the Better Ways to School initiative run by Capita on behalf of the county council. Headstart began in October 2006 with the aim of supplying 2,000 youngsters with lifesaving cycle helmets for just £5 each. But the scheme exceeded all expectations and has so far provided close to 3,000 crash hats at £5 and will continue doing until at least summer 2008.
Ian Stewart, Cumbria County Council spokesman on road safety issues, said: "I congratulate the Better Ways to School team and share their delight with the award which is national recognition of this scheme. But what is much more important is how well Headstart has been adopted by young cyclists."
"It is a superb initiative which has already helped almost 3,000 youngsters get their hands on crash hats that could save their lives. We will continue promoting the £5 helmets until as we go round the county's schools providing free cycle safety training for children."
Headstart won second place in child safety category of the Health for Kids Awards which this year attracted some 700 entries.
Sam Mellor, Head of the National Healthy Schools Programme's Delivery Unit, said: "Despite all the bad news we hear about the health of children and young people, there is lots of good work taking place. These awards reward examples of national best practice which has helped to make a real difference to the health and of children and young people. They aim to inspire people about what can be achieved, and encourage others to adopt similar schemes."
Terri Woodhams from the Health for Kids Awards said: "We have received a very high calibre of entries this year, from so many different schools and innovative initiatives each helping to change children's attitudes and behaviours towards healthy living and promote health and well being. Every submission has already been through a rigorous judging process, including a presentation to a panel of expert judges, and all thirty three of our awards finalists should be very proud of their achievements."
The cycle helmets, usually costing up to £30, have been provided at £5 by the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust with the help of government funding. Helmets are still available at the discounted rate and details can be found on the Better Ways to School website www.bwts.net
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