Knowsley school children have been learning about health and hygiene through a six-week creative workshop programme.
The Healthy Hero Academy is an innovative education programme developed by Explore Partnership CIC and Silly Fish Learning as part of the wider ReCITE initiative. Delivered in partnership with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and health partners from across Knowsley, the project uses creative workshops, storytelling, and drama to build children’s understanding of key health topics, with a focus on childhood health and wellbeing.
Each programme runs over five weekly sessions and covers important themes such as germs and handwashing, the immune system, the role of vaccines, healthy eating, and emotional wellbeing. These are brought to life through interactive games, role-play, group challenges, and imaginative storytelling. By the end of the programme, every child “graduates” as a Healthy Hero, equipped with knowledge, confidence, and a sense of pride in taking care of their own health and supporting others.
Impact so far:
- Reached over 120 children in local schools through 6-week creative workshop programmes.
- Improved children’s confidence in talking about key health and hygiene topics
- Strengthened collaboration between schools, community partners, and health services.
- Supported family engagement through end of programme school performances and take-home resources.
The programme is helping to build a new generation of health-aware children, supporting early intervention, and reducing health inequalities through a grassroots, community-led approach.
Cllr Christine Bannon, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, said: “This is a fantastic programme that helps bring health and hygiene to life for young people.
“Through programmes such as The Healthy Hero Academy, we can help install good health behaviours in children from an early age.”
Cllr David Lonergan, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “I was delighted to see that this programme has delivered such positive outcomes with children in Knowsley.
“Ensuring our children have a strong understanding of health and wellbeing is very important and this project has not only achieved this but has also strengthened family engagement with the council and partners.”
Gary See, Director at Explore Partnership, said: “This has been a hugely successful programme that has had a clear impact on local children.
“Through strong partnership working, we have been able to improve the understanding of health and hygiene not just in children but the entire family, and there is no doubt we will see the benefits of this for years to come.”
For more information on the Explore Parntership, visit www.explorepartnership.co.uk