Halton to get a share of £400m health fund
A POTENTIAL share of more than £400m of funding to help children benefit from healthier and more active lifestyles in Halton’s schools could be announced later this year.
Education Secretary Justine Greening announced £415m will be made available to schools in the 2018-19 financial year.
Local authorities and larger multi-academy trusts will receive an allocation for schools and will make decisions on how the money is invested.
Primary, secondary and sixth-form colleges will be able to use the funding to pay for facilities to support physical education (PE), after-school activities and healthy eating.
A Halton Borough Council spokesman told the Weekly News that the local authority does not yet know its allocation and that announcements will be made in the summer term.
Ms Greening said: “Schools can really help our children get a healthy start in life from exercise and sport, and also from knowing what a healthy diet means.
“It’s not only good for them while they’re in education, but the health and wellbeing benefits can last a lifetime.
“That’s why we’re investing ● £415m in facilities to support sports, after-school activities and promoting healthy eating, so we can secure the future health of our young people.”
The money is being raised through the Soft Drinks Industry Levy – known as the sugar tax – which makes companies pay a charge for drinks with added sugar and total sugar content of five grams or more per 100ml.
A Department For Education spokesman said: “Schools will also be able to use the healthy pupils capital programme to improve facilities for children with physical conditions or support young people struggling with mental health issues.
“Alongside funding for the PE and sport premium, breakfast clubs and universal infant free school meals, it represents over £1.3bn investment in the 2018 to 2019 academic year to help young people live healthier lifestyles.
“The healthy pupils capital programme will build on the Government’s plans for schools to provide a longer school day by changing the focus of the scheme to provide new facilities or improve existing ones to make it easier for a range of extra-curricular activities to be provided.”