Yesterday, there was a thoughtful and wide-ranging debate in the Commons about Childhood obesity, in which I spoke about Harlow and the some of the problems we face.
In many ways, Harlow is a tale of two towns.
As I wrote last week, our town is ambitious and enterprising, with a culture of hard work. We have more than 2,500 private businesses here, which makes us one of the most entrepreneurial towns in Essex. But at the same time, according to the latest study in 2007, Harlow also has estates with pockets of some of the worst deprivation and poverty - not just in Essex, but in England as a whole. This impacts on everything: homelessness, jobs, literacy and numeracy, family breakdown, and of course health.
One particular problem is childhood obesity.
I have called on the Government to make much more money available to local sports organisations and grassroots charities, such as Harlow Athletics Club, Harlow
We have one of the finest Leisure zones in the country, as well as hopefuls for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games, such as James Huckle and Anne Wafula-Strike. But despite all this, by the time Harlow children finish primary school, on average one in three is overweight; and one in five has the most challenging weight problems and is considered obese. This is a serious problem. It must be confronted, rather than swept under the carpet.
Clearly some of this is down to education, but it is also due to the McDonald’s culture that we all live in. We do not even have to get out of the car these days, stopping off for fast food is so much easier than going to the supermarket, and having to cook ingredients from scratch. I happen to love McDonald’s. It is a real treat, providing value for money and affordable meals, and it has made progress with the preparation of chicken salads and so on. But the problem is sometimes McDonalds and KFC become an extension of our kitchen.
Harlow schools have made much progress also with their meals in recent years, following various media campaigns and the involvement of the likes of Jamie Oliver.
I believe we must find more money for grassroots charities, to support groups like Harlow Gymnastics Club and others. It has many members, the cost of joining is very small, and it has changed the lives of countless young people and those with significant health problems.
Harlow schools have made much progress also with their meals in recent years, following various media campaigns and the involvement of the likes of Jamie Oliver.
I believe we must find more money for grassroots charities, to support groups like Harlow Gymnastics Club and others. It has many members, the cost of joining is very small, and it has changed the lives of countless young people and those with significant health problems.
That is exactly what the Big Society is all about: solutions coming from the communities and neighbourhoods we live in. We have some remarkable sporting groups in Harlow, which are run by volunteers and social entrepreneurs who know how to stretch a few hundred pounds to have the greatest impact with as little bureaucracy as possible.
For example, if we diverted just one per cent of the sin taxes on cigarettes - around £209 million a year - and if the same were applied to alcopops, excessively fatty foods and high-sugar products aimed at children, and that money was then funneled into groups like Harlow Athletics Club, think about the difference that would make. It would transform childhood obesity.
Another local example is Berecroft. Police community support officers on the Berecroft estate in Harlow have a regular Saturday football game with local children, and organise it with the Berecroft Residents Associatio
The Government have already ring fenced hundreds of millions of pounds for Big Society projects like these, and are relaxing the rules on Gift Aid and leaving money to charities in your will. It will take time, but there will soon by real finance available to fund the Big Society: I will be campaigning for Harlow to get its fair share.
For example, if we diverted just one per cent of the sin taxes on cigarettes - around £209 million a year - and if the same were applied to alcopops, excessively fatty foods and high-sugar products aimed at children, and that money was then funneled into groups like Harlow Athletics Club, think about the difference that would make. It would transform childhood obesity.
Another local example is Berecroft. Police community support officers on the Berecroft estate in Harlow have a regular Saturday football game with local children, and organise it with the Berecroft Residents Associatio
The Government have already ring fenced hundreds of millions of pounds for Big Society projects like these, and are relaxing the rules on Gift Aid and leaving money to charities in your will. It will take time, but there will soon by real finance available to fund the Big Society: I will be campaigning for Harlow to get its fair share.
by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com
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