Latest news with #StrongerStarts
Associated Press
11-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
First 5 California and First 5 San Diego Announce Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Action with Family Event
First 5 California and First 5 San Diego hosted a joint event today to commemorate Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Action 2025 'The Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Actions is a reminder that our communities thrive when we invest early and intentionally in our littles and families.'— Alethea Arguilez, Executive Director of First 5 San Diego SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES, May 10, 2025 / / -- First 5 California and First 5 San Diego hosted a joint event today to commemorate Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Action 2025 as a statewide initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the critical importance of early childhood development and the need to ensure every child in California has the strongest possible start in life. This initiative coincides with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 67 by Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego) declaring May 10, 2025 to be 'Stronger Starts for Children Day' in California. The Stronger Starts campaign calls attention to the lasting impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress response (TSR), while promoting the power of safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments in helping children grow, learn, and thrive. A recent CDC study showed that 63% of U.S. adults reported at least one ACE. Additionally, ACEs account for a total annual economic burden of $14.1 trillion, or $1.5 trillion every year in California alone. The Statewide Day of Action invites communities, leaders, and families to unite around a shared commitment to supporting children during their foundational years. 'The Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Action isn't just a one-day event, it is the beginning of a movement that champions the importance of early childhood development,' said Jackie Thu-Huong Wong, Executive Director of First 5 California. 'When we unite in purpose and raise awareness, we send a powerful message: every child in California deserves to grow up in a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment. We thank First 5 San Diego for their partnership in engaging local families on this important movement.' Today's event included participants and members of the public potting sunflower seeds with their children, encouraging bonding and relationship building to fight the harmful effects of ACEs and prevent toxic stress response. 'The Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Actions is a reminder that our communities thrive when we invest early and intentionally in our littles and families,' said Alethea Arguilez, Executive Director of First 5 San Diego. 'From raising awareness about the lifelong impacts of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress, to promoting simple, joyful moments, like planting a seed with your child, we are building a culture that prioritizes safety, connection, and support in the early years. First 5 San Diego is proud to stand alongside First 5 California in this statewide call to action to give every child the strongest start possible.' Together, First 5 California and First 5 San Diego continue to lead efforts across the state and in San Diego County to equip families, educators, and caregivers with the tools and knowledge they need to nurture healthy development and prevent the long-term impacts of early adversity. To learn more about the Stronger Starts campaign, visit About First 5 California First 5 California was established in 1998 when voters passed Proposition 10, which taxes tobacco products to fund services for children ages 0 to 5 and their families. First 5 California programs and resources are designed to educate and support teachers, parents, and caregivers in the critical role they play during a child's first five years--to help California kids receive the best possible start in life and thrive. For more information, please visit Stacey Reardon Change Craft LLC +1 9165023799 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Scottish Sun
30-04-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
£10 course gets mums and dads cooking from scratch
MEAL DEAL £10 course gets mums and dads cooking from scratch Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S the never-ending question in homes across the country – what should we have for dinner? Luckily, one children's charity in Canterbury, Kent, is more than happy to provide the answer. It offers families the chance to learn some tasty new recipes that the whole crew will love – and that won't break the bank. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 'We asked parents, like Ellie, what they would like to see us do,' says Ann Lamkin, the family support practitioner who runs the course with colleague Jo Horley at Canterbury and District Early Years Project. 2 The course gave mums including Ellie lots of ideas and some great recipes 'And one of them said: 'Oh, we just need some basic meals, some basic cookery. We're fed up with doing the same old, same old food.' 'So we put together a six-week course where we not only cook, we look at things like the importance of sitting around the table and eating together, or how to save time and money, like with batch cooking. 'Now they've got one extra or maybe five extra new things to add to their repertoire.' The course, helped off the ground with a £1,000 Tesco Stronger Starts grant, takes place three times a year. It's been a roaring success, with proud parents posting their dishes to the Facebook page. One person asked how to make pastry, which they then turned into cheese straws. 'These skills get lost over time,' says Ann. 'There is nothing wrong with convenience foods, but we want to show that actually cooking from scratch can be cheaper. 'You probably end up with three times as much. And parents tend to find that it's not actually as hard as they think it is.' Around 12 families attend each session. While parents cook, their children play in the free crèche. Costs are kept to a minimum, at just £10 for the whole course – ingredients included – and there's a free food bank. Healthy chicken nuggets rolled in cornflakes go down well, as does a moreish macaroni cheese using a homemade white sauce that can be the base of other dishes. 'We made a delicious bean and vegetable hotpot, which the children love,' says Ann. 'We asked our parents to guess the cost. It was just £2.30 for a family of four.' Ann's top tips? Have a ready-made pantry at home with basics like rice, pasta, mixed herbs, chilli and tinned tomatoes, shop with a weekly meal plan – and don't hit the aisles when you're hungry. 'We reckon over the three courses it's between 53 and 60 children benefiting from having a meal that's cooked by their parents.' Tesco Stronger Starts has awarded over £13million to almost 12,000 community projects, with grant recipients chosen by more than 330 million customer votes using blue tokens in stores across the UK. Applications for Cooking for All grants close on May 30. A Tesco Cooking for All grant supports children by providing food access and education on nutrition and cooking. To apply, visit
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
£10 course gets mums and dads cooking from scratch
IT'S the never-ending question in homes across the country – what should we have for dinner? Luckily, one children's charity in Canterbury, Kent, is more than happy to provide the answer. It offers families the chance to learn some tasty new recipes that the whole crew will love – and that won't break the bank. Advertisement 'We asked parents, like Ellie, what they would like to see us do,' says Ann Lamkin, the family support practitioner who runs the course with colleague Jo Horley at Canterbury and District Early Years Project. 2 The course gave mums including Ellie lots of ideas and some great recipes 'And one of them said: 'Oh, we just need some basic meals, some basic cookery. We're fed up with doing the same old, same old food.' 'So we put together a six-week course where we not only cook, we look at things like the importance of sitting around the table and eating together, or how to save time and money, like with batch cooking. 'Now they've got one extra or maybe five extra new things to add to their repertoire.' Advertisement The course, helped off the ground with a £1,000 Tesco Stronger Starts grant, takes place three times a year. It's been a roaring success, with proud parents posting their dishes to the Facebook page. One person asked how to make pastry, which they then turned into cheese straws. 'These skills get lost over time,' says Ann. 'There is nothing wrong with convenience foods, but we want to show that actually cooking from scratch can be cheaper. Advertisement 'You probably end up with three times as much. And parents tend to find that it's not actually as hard as they think it is.' Around 12 families attend each session. While parents cook, their children play in the free crèche. Costs are kept to a minimum, at just £10 for the whole course – ingredients included – and there's a free food bank. Healthy chicken nuggets rolled in cornflakes go down well, as does a moreish macaroni cheese using a homemade white sauce that can be the base of other dishes. Advertisement 'We made a delicious bean and vegetable hotpot, which the children love,' says Ann. 'We asked our parents to guess the cost. It was just £2.30 for a family of four.' Ann's top tips? Have a ready-made pantry at home with basics like rice, pasta, mixed herbs, chilli and tinned tomatoes, shop with a weekly meal plan – and don't hit the aisles when you're hungry. 'We reckon over the three courses it's between 53 and 60 children benefiting from having a meal that's cooked by their parents.' Advertisement Tesco Stronger Starts has awarded over £13million to almost 12,000 community projects, with grant recipients chosen by more than 330 million customer votes using blue tokens in stores across the UK. Applications for Cooking for All grants close on May 30. A Tesco Cooking for All grant supports children by providing food access and education on nutrition and cooking . To apply, visit 2 Advertisement
The Sun
30-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
£10 course gets mums and dads cooking from scratch
IT'S the never-ending question in homes across the country – what should we have for dinner? Luckily, one children's charity in Canterbury, Kent, is more than happy to provide the answer. It offers families the chance to learn some tasty new recipes that the whole crew will love – and that won't break the bank. 'We asked parents, like Ellie, what they would like to see us do,' says Ann Lamkin, the family support practitioner who runs the course with colleague Jo Horley at Canterbury and District Early Years Project. 2 'And one of them said: 'Oh, we just need some basic meals, some basic cookery. We're fed up with doing the same old, same old food.' 'So we put together a six-week course where we not only cook, we look at things like the importance of sitting around the table and eating together, or how to save time and money, like with batch cooking. 'Now they've got one extra or maybe five extra new things to add to their repertoire.' The course, helped off the ground with a £1,000 Tesco Stronger Starts grant, takes place three times a year. It's been a roaring success, with proud parents posting their dishes to the Facebook page. One person asked how to make pastry, which they then turned into cheese straws. 'These skills get lost over time,' says Ann. 'There is nothing wrong with convenience foods, but we want to show that actually cooking from scratch can be cheaper. 'You probably end up with three times as much. And parents tend to find that it's not actually as hard as they think it is.' Around 12 families attend each session. While parents cook, their children play in the free crèche. Costs are kept to a minimum, at just £10 for the whole course – ingredients included – and there's a free food bank. Healthy chicken nuggets rolled in cornflakes go down well, as does a moreish macaroni cheese using a homemade white sauce that can be the base of other dishes. 'We made a delicious bean and vegetable hotpot, which the children love,' says Ann. 'We asked our parents to guess the cost. It was just £2.30 for a family of four.' Ann's top tips? Have a ready-made pantry at home with basics like rice, pasta, mixed herbs, chilli and tinned tomatoes, shop with a weekly meal plan – and don't hit the aisles when you're hungry. 'We reckon over the three courses it's between 53 and 60 children benefiting from having a meal that's cooked by their parents.' Tesco Stronger Starts has awarded over £13million to almost 12,000 community projects, with grant recipients chosen by more than 330 million customer votes using blue tokens in stores across the UK. Applications for Cooking for All grants close on May 30. .
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Some children don't have enough to eat' The reality of childhood poverty in Wales
When free fruit is put out at Ferndale Community School staff have learned to turn a blind eye as some hungry children take extra. Some pupils arrive hungry each morning because their families cannot afford enough food and there is even a small group who don't have beds to sleep on. This is the reality in 21st-century Wales – not a glimpse of Victorian-era deprivation. Ferndale is a former mining village high up the Rhondda Fach Valley. It has the most deprived school community in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Some 37% of its pupils are eligible for free school meals and it serves an area listed as the fourth-most deprived in Wales. Walking through the doors it doesn't feel grim or hungry. Staff know their community well and are doing all they can to help. This now includes free fruit and vegetables in cooking classes, a free breakfast club ,and free fruit in bowls on tables at break and lunch. 'In this community there is need because of lack of food. There is hunger and lack of warm, safe spaces for some. The level of poverty in some of our families is quite scary,' says the school's community manager Michelle Coburn-Hughes. 'There is a lack of carpets, lack of beds, siblings sharing beds. There is a correlation between poverty and mental health.' Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here. The data about deprivation and hunger is depressing and Michelle's job is to tackle this, which she does with cheerful energy. She's not going to gloss over facts but she is doing something real to address them. Ferndale is one of around 400 schools across the UK to receive free fruit and vegetables through Tesco's fruit and veg for schools programme. The programme is part of Tesco's Stronger Starts, which provides more than £8m a year of financial support to community groups and schools. Michelle, a mother of three herself, is well aware of the rising price of food even for families not in poverty. She applied for the school to be part of the Tesco fruit and veg scheme last term and since October it has had £500 a week loaded on a card to buy free fruit and veg from Tesco. Michelle's job is to know families and the community and she is also executive of the Fern Partnership – the school's charity which raises £1.4m a year for the area. She knows that many children don't get enough to eat, let alone fresh produce, and says the Tesco scheme has helped their learning and health as well as stopping some from being hungry at times. It's hard to do your best when you're hungry and while the free school meal allocation may be enough in principle it does little to stop the hunger for children arriving on empty stomachs hours before lunch, she points out. The Tesco scheme goes some way to addressing this with its free fruit served alongside free bread from Greggs at the school's free breakfast club which has been running for 18 months. Around one in four of the school's 660 pupils come to the free breakfast club each morning between 8am and 8.30am before lessons start. Michelle says it's helped attention and attainment and concentration before exams. 'We do see some of our children hungry and even more so now with cost of living. There is an absolute correlation between being hungry and not being able to concentrate at school,' says Michelle. It's children like these that the Tesco scheme is targeted at. On average 18% of 11-to-18-year-olds have low intakes of vitamin A1 , which is important for the immune system, vision, and healthy skin, and just 4% of 11-to-18-year-olds meet recommended fibre intakes, according to the Nutrition Foundation. Ferndale Community School staff collect their order from Aberdare Tesco each week with produce from it going to the food and nutrition department for cooking lessons as well as the free fruit bowls and breakfast club. The supermarket giant's fruit and veg for schools programme launched in September 2024. So far almost 2.5million portions of fruit and vegetables have been served through the scheme. Michelle and other staff at Ferndale say the effect goes beyond addressing hunger and nutrition in the here and now. It also helps children do better at school and gives them knowledge and habits for healthy eating for life, which in turn they'll pass on. Being familiar with different foods and learning how to prepare nutritious, tasty meals is vital, says Ferndale food and nutrition teacher Hannah Darbyshire. She knows not all families have the money to buy fresh produce for each meal and says some children arrive in year seven with limited experience of tasting some foods or how to prepare them. 'Some have never tried strawberries or pineapple. Sometimes they haven't tried certain fruit and vegetables so we do tastings. We have pupils who have never tried things and they have all gone away from tastings saying they want to eat something new now. "Every pupil in our school is eating more fruit and vegetables since the Tesco scheme. You see them walking around eating fruit instead of a bag of crisps.' So what do the pupils think about it? Is there any truth in the assumption that children and teenagers prefer sugar and junk? That doesn't seem to be the case with children in a year seven food and nutrition class on a rainy February morning. The group is making chicken and salad wraps and they are are busy chopping bright piles of peppers, avocado, tomatoes, spring onions, and other salad ingredients. Ethan Evans admits he's not keen on tomatoes or cauliflower and thinks he probably should eat more fresh ingredients. Folding his wrap like a pro the 12-year-old says he does cook at home sometimes. "I cook with my grandparents and help with the Sunday roast but prefer eating to cooking it,' he jokes, adding: "I try to eat fruit and vegetables because it is very important and I like grapes best.' Mason Anthony clearly loves cooking and is happy to explain how to make the best wrap. He doesn't like sprouts and is 'not the biggest fan of cauliflower' but he loves parsnips, carrots, and peas. 'I like making stir fries and I like bananas and oranges but I don't eat fruit every day,' he admits. At school Mason, 12, tasted mango and peaches for the first time and now likes both. Across the room 11-year-olds Darcie Wilkins and Grace Depace are slicing veg carefully. Darcie cooks at home 'sometimes' and Grace's favourite food is mac and cheese. Both girls are more keen on fruit than veg. They list blueberries and watermelon among their favourites. On the opposite table two boys, heads together, are discussing the best way to slice a tomato and shave off carrot is getting stuck in and being creative with the bright vegetable colours and the careful piling and folding of the finished wrap. Their teacher is pleased with the class progress as the year sevens leave the room with their wraps carefully boxed. Some open the boxes and take sneaky bites as they head for their next lesson of the day. For now no-one in this class is hungry. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. See our Privacy Notice.
