Dear

We are getting in touch as part of a wider community programme focused on supporting children and families to build healthier habits, both in and beyond the school setting.

As part of this work, we’re delighted to offer your school a free place on Chester’s Challenge programme, designed to be flexible, easy to engage with. The programme links schools with a range of local initiatives, alongside community partners such as libraries and community groups, helping to create consistent health messages across the community. In return, we simply ask schools to help share occasional information with parents and guardians about local health events through existing school communication channels.

Chester’s Challenge is our popular and highly regarded 3‑week health promotion programme for P5 pupils, with a one‑off workshop available for P7s. Led by our monkey mascot, Chester, the sessions are fun, interactive and curriculum‑linked, helping pupils explore topics such as healthy eating, keeping active, sleep, screen time and making healthy choices for life. The P7 workshop focuses on the risks of smoking and v4ping, giving older pupils clear, age‑appropriate messages. The programme is designed to be engaging, practical and easy for schools to take part in, while supporting positive health habits. To find out more please visit our website.

For the whole school we are offering a simple calendar of self‑led challenges that schools can choose to take part in at different points across the year, all aimed at building healthy habits in a fun and manageable way. This includes a Healthy Eating focus early in the year, a Sleep and Screen Time challenge later on, You and Me NI Vape Free lessons for P6/7 pupils, and an Active Breaks Challenge after Easter. There’s no competition and no pressure to do everything – it’s all about giving schools flexible, enjoyable ways to support a healthier whole‑school environment, with more information and resources to follow.

I would love to talk to you more about this exciting opportunity be that in person or via a phone call. Can you please let me know if your school would be interested.

Jessica