Worcester Warriors have continued work on a pioneering Anti-Smoking project – in conjunction with the Worcester City Council AOHN Programme and a leading city councillor – after launching the initiative in Dines Green.
Staff from the Warriors Community Foundation are this month working with children in Years 5 and 6 at Dines Green Primary School to deliver the latest four-week educational programme.
The scheme is being funded by St John Councillor Richard Udall and the AOHN Programme and educates children on the dangers, cost and also the impact on others of passive smoking.
The latest project has also been given the backing of Worcester Head Coach Richard Hill who this week joined Coun Richard Udall, Dines Green Primary School headteacher Stephen Gough and staff from the Foundation to show his support.
The project was successfully introduced to pupils at Gorse Hill, Fairfield and Cranham Primary Schools in Warndon earlier this year and Coun Richard Udall said he was delighted children in Dines Green were also now benefitting from the project’s key messages.
“I was pleased to be able to fund this excellent scheme,” said Coun Udall. “With the help of Worcester Warriors we will not only get across the important message about how dangerous it is to smoke but Dines Green children will also be learning the joys of rugby.
“I know the children are really looking forward to this experience. The work Warriors undertake really helps to inspire children and improve their health.
“It is really great and impressive that Warriors work so hard to get their important message out to local schools and communities. Warriors may even find new rugby talent and possible future players at Dines Green School.”
Staff from the Warriors Community Foundation deliver four classroom based lessons at the school. The first lesson features a smoky lung demonstration that shows what the dangers are to inside your body. Children who have taken part in the project finish by creating an assembly to deliver to parents.
Carol Hart, Warriors Community Foundation Manager, said: “The Anti-Smoking Campaign carries a vitally important message to young people and we are pleased to now be able to run this successful project in Dines Green.
“At Warriors we always stress the benefits of leading an active and healthy lifestyle and it is important that we share this knowledge with young people across our local community.
“We would once again like to thank the AOHN Programme for their backing and Councillor Richard Udall for his efforts and support in this area of Worcester.”