A new national initiative to help improve the health and wellbeing of students and staff in further education colleges was announced today by Bill Rammell, Minister for Further Education, at the National Learners Panel annual event.
The National Healthy FE initiative, funded by the Department of Health, with support from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) will be developed with further education colleges and representative bodies, to improve access to health related advice, information and guidance through the colleges.
Minister for Further Education, Bill Rammell said:
"I am delighted to announce cross-government support for a new 'National Healthy FE' initiative, which will be of particular benefit to young people coping with the transition to adulthood. We know that their support needs are complex and diverse, and without a comprehensive, planned, but flexible approach, too many can leave without realising their full potential.
"There is nothing more important than giving children and young people the best start in life they can possibly get. We believe that the Healthy FE initiative will build upon what a number of colleges have already been actively encouraging, by providing them with even more tools and support to address the health and wellbeing needs of their students and staff.
"We want this initiative to be owned and led by the further education sector and I urge college principals to get involved working with local partners, and so further enhancing the support available to students through their local colleges."
Today's announcement supports government intentions to extend the principles of the successful National Healthy Schools Programme to colleges, and will be used to foster closer ties between health and education within the FE sector.
