"The Children's Health Fund welcomes the government's confirmation in today's obesity plan that it will introduce a sugary drinks levy as a key measure to significantly reduce sugar intake, and to ring-fence the funds raised for school sports, after-school activities and breakfast clubs."
"We look forward to the full implementation of this important policy measure, which will make a huge difference to the wellbeing of children in the UK."
"The Children's Health Fund was set up by Jamie Oliver and Sustain in August 2015. We work with restaurants and cafes, who voluntarily put a 10p sugary drinks levy on non-alcoholic soft drinks on their menu that have added sugar. The money raised by the self-imposed levy is paid into the Children's Health Fund, administered by Sustain. The Children's Health Fund is overseen by an independent board, made up of experts on children’s health and food education. The board approves the allocation of grants to programmes and schemes aimed at improving children’s health and food education."
"An earlier grants round funded free drinking water in schools and sports clubs. Our current funding round offers between £1,000 and £5,000 for projects that tackle holiday hunger."
"One of the main reasons for the establishment of the Children’s Health Fund was to lead the way by putting a voluntary levy on sugary drinks and make a case for the Government to introduce a mandatory, national sugary drinks levy. We are pleased that the Government has committed to doing this, with the national Soft Drinks Industry Levy to be introduced in 2018 (this date has not been confirmed in today's obesity plan, but we assume this is still the aim)."
Response to Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan from Children's Health Fund manager Gloria Coates-Davies. Contact: 0203 5596 777; email: gloria@sustainweb.org
Published Thursday 18 August 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
