Health and wellbeing

A young carer is a person under 18 who provides or intends to provide care for another person. This can relate to care for a family member or friend of the family who is physically or mentally ill, frail elderly, disabled or misuses alcohol/ substances.

The aim of the HAF programme is to support children to eat more healthily, be more active over the school holidays and have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition as well as be more engaged with school and other local services.

Children and young people who are physically active have better general health, stronger bones and muscles, and higher levels of self-esteem. According to the NHS, to maintain a basic level of health, children and young people aged 5 to 18 should do at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.  

Body image refers to how a person sees themselves. Some people may have a negative body image and hold an unrealistic view of their body. There is no one cause of negative body image, and there is no one type of person that struggles with it.

Learning about and forming relationships with others is a key life skill. Children and young people who make friendships early on have an easier time forming relationships as they get older. Relationships alter as children grow up. Older children will spend less time with their parents and more time with their peers.

If a child or young person doesn't get enough sleep it can make them irritable and affect their behaviour. The odd night of poor sleep might make a child feel tired and grumpy, but it won’t harm their health. Regular poor sleep can cause health problems, including a weakened immune system and mental health problems .

Just like adults, children and young people are bound to feel stressed, worried and/or anxious at times. It is common for children and young people to feel stressed or anxious about significant events such as starting a new school or before an exam.

Children and young people should eat a healthy, balanced diet to maintain good health and help them to feel their best. This means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions, and consuming the right amount of food and drink to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

Poor emotional health and wellbeing can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and panic attacks, and can make it difficult for a child or young person to feel positive about their daily life and maintain good relationships with family, friends and colleagues.

As children get older, the way they express their sexual feelings changes. These days children are exposed to sexual images at a far younger age, and in more places than ever before, such as music videos, websites and social media.

Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths in England, accounting for more than 80,000 deaths each year. One in two smokers will die from a smoking-related disease.

Many parents might be concerned that their child might experiment with alcohol or drugs as they grow up. It is important to make sure that children are aware of the risks and how to keep themselves safe.