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Who we are?
Welcome to the Health Education Trust (HET). Our charity comprises a small team of health education professionals dedicated to improving health and well-being.
What we do?
We specialise in providing advice, guidance and examples of best practice in implementing whole setting approaches to addressing health issues, in particular in relation to food and fitness in schools.
We are able to work across a range of educational settings from early years to Universities. Our approach can also be adapted to other environments such a hospitals, care settings and the workplace but always revolves around engaging key stakeholders for effective change.
Our history
In the early 90s, our founder, Joe Harvey, was instrumental in the development of a whole school approach to addressing food issues using ‘School Nutrition Action Groups’ (SNAGs).
These alliances of senior leaders, teachers, pupils, parents, and lunchtime staff work together to review a school’s approach to catering and education and create a food policy and action plan to ensure consistent messages are given about food across the school day.
Originally a radical concept, it is now recognised as a fundamental process for working effectively across a range of settings and health improvement programs.
HET is one of the four original partners in the Food for Life Partnership – the largest and most ambitious school food project ever launched in the UK. Its main aim was (and still is) to transform school food culture. HET contributed its expertise by setting up SNAGs and developing action plans and whole school food policies in 180 primary, secondary and special flagship schools as well as training school staff and a wide range of other professionals.
In 2013 HET was invited to develop a health education curriculum for 7-11 year olds in Saudi Arabia.
HET has worked with a range of local authorities and the Welsh Assembly Government to look at the provision of vending machines and water coolers in schools. We have also provided support to schools on the management of medicines.
Our current work
As part of the Soil Association Food for Life programme, HET continues to support stakeholders in schools and other settings such as hospitals and nurseries to review and improve their approach to food service.
HET is involved in a new project on allergy awareness and management in secondary schools. This project seeks to establish best practice in reducing the risk of anaphylactic reaction for pupils.
The future
HET has staff based around England, welcomes working in partnership and can respond quickly and flexibly to requests for collaboration. For more information or to discuss how we may be able to work together please contact us.
Charity number: 1045210
Company number: 85590