HERO is a health education programme developed by GENIE (Genetics Education Networking for Innovation & Excellence) Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning at the University of Leicester and is jointly funded by the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in applied Health Research & Care
HERO aims to:
- Educate and inspire people to take responsibility for their own health, diet and well-being.
- Promote awareness of the links that exist between an unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle and serious health problems in later life
Through fun and interactive workshops and public events HERO provides people of various social and ethnic backgrounds with the insight to prevent and reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. HERO is committed to providing adults,families, students and school-children with a basis to appreciate the long-term benefits of regular exercise, a healthy diet and a stress-free lifestyle
Hero activities include:
Working with schools and teachers.....
....to develop and deliver interactive, curriculum-embedded activities that inspire young people to take control of their health and engage with science in a university a setting. 'HERO Days' provide school students and their teachers with a variety of hands-on activities relating to health,diet and exercise.
Schools Project: In 2010 and 2011 HERO is working with three schools (including Gartree High School in Oadby ) in Leicestershire over two academic years to investigate the best ways of getting healthy living messages across to over 800 young people. In doing this HERO aims to determine the approach that best increases pupil's knowledge and understanding of how diet and exercise can affect long-term health, and to explore their perceptions, attitudes and understanding of diet and disease.
For further information visit the HERO website:
www2.le.ac.uk/departments/genetics/genie/projects/hero