03.07.08 - Magna Housing Association help local children to make healthy choices

Dorset’s health promoting children’s charity Life Education Dorset were presented with a cheque for £13,200 by Magna Housing Association (MHA) tenant representatives at the Prince of Wales First School, in Dorchester this week.

Life Education Dorset works with schools and the community to help children between the ages of 3 and 11 make healthy choices. Through a progressive series of fun, memorable and age appropriate programmes children develop an understanding of how the body works, the effects and risks associated with the use of drugs including alcohol and tobacco. Through role-play they also learn life skills such as how to cope with bullying and peer pressure.

Mike Webb, an MHA tenant representative, said ‘one of our objectives is to support various local community projects and we are delighted that we have been able to support the wonderful work of Life Education with young people in our area. There has never been a more important time for this charity as children are facing ever increasing pressures and temptations to damage their health and futures’.

MHA has three Tenant Panels made up of its residents who volunteer their time to represent others on housing related issues and help fellow tenants where they can. Each panel administers a proportion of a Community Initiative Fund and as part of that considers projects that they feel benefit MHA residents or their children in the community.

Lorraine Hewitt, Corporate Development Fundraiser for Life Education, adds, ‘We are extremely grateful to Magna Housing Association and the Residents panels for this very generous donation. We currently receive no statutory funding and so have to rely very much on the support of the local community and charitable donations. This funding will make a real difference allowing us to continue our vital work with the 42,000 children that we visit in Dorset every year ensuring that they are given the opportunity to stay safe and well’.
If you would like any further information about Life Education Dorset or would like to sponsor visits to a school near you please call 01305 871050.

Last updated 03.07.08