The University of Southampton

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Welcoming peerage and pupils to LifeLab

Posted on by Sian Bryant

“Children do not learn in the classroom alone, they have to come and experience things for themselves, and LifeLab gives them the opportunity to do that.”

Those were the words of Lord Patel when he visited our state of the art education space at University Hospital Southampton ahead of being presented with his honorary degree from the University of Southampton.

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Lord Patel (far right) with Hamble students, Kathryn Woods-Townsend (far left) and visitors from the University from Southampton

He was invited to have a look around our labs where we have welcomed more than 8,000 students so far this year to discover how their lifestyle choices can impact their health now and in the future.

With a wealth of experience social care and public health, Lord Patel said he was very impressed with the programme that sees teenagers carry out a series of hands-of experiences which examines their own health as part of a science-based module that their teachers have been supported in delivering in school.

Describing his thoughts on the project, which sits under the National Institute for Health Research and part of the University of Southampton, Lord Patel said: “It is extremely interesting and one that I see no reason why it can’t be rolled out further. It is so important that young people get the chance to have this practical experience so they can understand why taking care of their health is important.”

During his visit Lord Patel also spoke to visiting students from Hamble School who described the sort of activities they had been doing.img_5779

“Coming to a hospital and seeing what goes on and the people who work here is a great thing for them to be experiencing,” added Lord Patel.

LifeLab programme lead Dr Kathryn Woods-Townsend said: “This was a great opportunity to showcase LifeLab to someone who has a wealth of experience in the area of social and public health. It was wonderful to hear how enthusiastic he was about our approach.”

 

 

 

 

Time to showcase the difference LifeLab can make

Posted on by Sian Bryant

The LifeLab team supported the recent Health and Wellbeing conference, organised by the University of Southampton’s Education School.
Professionals from across primary, secondary and further education sectors took part in the day which involved participating in a series of workshops and sessions aimed at developing expertise in the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) area of the curriculum.
Here teaching fellow Lisa Bagust, talks about how the conference provided an opportunity to showcase LifeLab’s work.

One of our aims at the recent Health and Wellbeing Conference was to increase participation of schools and students in the Youth Health Champions programme through engagement with LifeLab.
The Health and Wellbeing conference provided a fantastic opportunity to introduce trainee secondary teachers to the RSPH Level 2 Award in Youth Health Champions and explain how LifeLab delivers the modules and supports students and schools in gaining their award.

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Attendees at the Health and Wellbeing conference at the University of Southampton

The award is a qualification pupils obtain and enables them to provide peer support through an understanding of the individual and social drivers of healthy and unhealthy behaviours, as well as signposting to local health services.
It also provides them with the knowledge of health and wellbeing issues relevant to them and develops their skills to deliver positive health messages to their peers.
Pupils understand the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and are more likely to approach and listen to their peers and develop skills for the workplace.

There are also benefits for the school too as the scheme improves the health and wellbeing of students and staff, increases health literacy, improves links between young people’s services and reduces bullying.

The LifeLab programme offers a fully resourced, curriculum-linked science module for Year 8/9 students that is based on science research being carried out at the University and the hospital.
The programme encourages young people to examine the science behind health messages and how their own choices could affect their health in later life.

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LifeLab stand at the conference

Our package includes CPD for teachers, all resources and transport costs and supply cover for the visit to LifeLab. There is also the option of undertaking the Youth Health Champions Level 2 award for those students selected to complete an additional three modules.
Trainee teachers at the Health and Wellbeing conference had the opportunity to try out some of the LifeLab resources that pupils enjoy during the programme. That included hands-on activities like playing a card game, when players are posed questions like what the biggest causes of death were in the UK and how they have changed over time.

Those taking part in the workshops also played the Tower of Risk game when they were asked what they believe are the biggest risk to their health was and what they could do to reduce that risk. Alongside getting to grips with the resources participants also familiarised themselves with the aims of the Youth Health Champions award.

At the conference we were told how a recent evidence review had shown how PSHE education supported academic success while other research had shown that pupils with better health and wellbeing are likely to achieve better academically, underlining how important developing this area of the curriculum is.