Are you listening?

The Big Listen 2007 is calling for children all over the borough to have their say on being healthy from 19 – 24 November.  Partner organisations across Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton have come together led by the Children’s Empowerment Team at Sure Start to organise a whole week of exciting events at different community locations to encourage children to speak out on health issues.

The events will be themed, ‘Be Healthy’ as Big Listen week aims at looking at the physical health as well as emotional and psychological wellbeing of children.  The healthy theme has been announced this week, as a government report forecasts grave concerns about obesity in the UK.  According to the report over half of the UK could be obese within 25 years.  Sure Start recognise the need for education in children on a healthy lifestyle. 

The Big Listen opens the opportunity for children to have their say about topical subjects, the world they live in and personal issues.  It gives Sure, Start, NHS, other Council services, the Police and many other partner organisations chance to gat feedback from children to work with them to change their environment for the better.

There will be plenty of fun and light hearted activities to get the serious message across to children and families.  Events include heath checks, anti bullying sessions, fruit and health snack tasting and much more.

The week will culminate with a big event at Rochdale Town Hall.  Children have been asked to think about questions they would like to ask to leading adults in the Town.  A panel of experts will be posed with the questions at a special question and answer session.  Last years panel included, Roger Ellis, RMBC Chief Executive, and a Senior Police Officer - this years panel is to be announced.