SUGAR SMART Enfield kicks off with a focus on sports clubs

The Mayor of Enfield, Cllr Christine Hamilton, kicked off the SUGAR SMART campaign at halftime. Cllr Krystle Fonyonga, Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Public Health, also pledged support for the initiative, with plans to improve the food on offer across Enfield's venues, alongside public education on the dangers of sugar overconsumption.

Cllr Fonyonga said:

Almost one in four children in Enfield starts primary school overweight or obese and by the time they reach secondary school it’s more than two in five. It is therefore essential that we act now and support people to reduce their sugar intake and lead healthier lives.

We want Enfield to become SUGAR SMART by helping people in the borough to reduce their sugar intake. It's vital that local businesses, organisations, schools and residents get involved.

Like many other SUGAR SMART campaigns across the UK, Enfield is promoting a public survey to gather residents' views on sugar and use them to shape the focus of their sugar reduction work going forward.

A number of organisations have already pledged to improve their catering and vending arrangements, install water fountains and provide education to children.

In partnership with the campaign, Middlesex FA will be encouraging FA Charter Standard Clubs to implement a Water Only Policy, while coaches and managers from Enfield Town FC will be educating their youth teams about the danger of eating too much sugar.

Enfield Council is also supporting staff and residents to reduce their sugar consumption by limiting high sugar content drinks and snacks from sale at the Dugdale Centre. Locally sourced and sustainable food has been introduced into the menu at The Dugdale Centre which is proving popular with the public. These measures will be extended to the Civic Centre this year.

SUGAR SMART is a campaign of Sustain and Jamie Oliver. It is the feature campaign of the Sustainable Food Cities network until mid-2018.