Children and young people from across Suffolk can now access all of the information they need to live a healthy, happy life – thanks to a funky new website launched today.

The microsite has been specially created to attract people aged under 18, and uses bright colours, innovative design and a host of interactive features to spread the healthy living message in a fun, entertaining way.

Forming part of the main Healthy Ambitions Suffolk website, the microsite has been split into three areas – families, juniors aged 11 and under and teens aged 12 to 18. Each has been specially tailored to its individual age group, with the final designs selected with the help of Suffolk Young People’s Health Project.

The families section gives top tips and advice on living well, and features links to healthy news stories and features as well as information on making the right food choices and taking enough exercise. It also links to the Healthy Schools site, and gives people the chance to download a fitness widget, which sends daily emails packed with ideas on keeping the whole family active.

In the area for juniors, children can take part in fun quizzes and get advice on what to do if their tummy hurts of they feel poorly. 



It also gives them the chance to sign up to the Healthy Ambitions Suffolk Challenge – which was launched on 22 April 2009.

This gives the county’s 50,000 primary school children the chance to try new types of exercise, such as dancing, playing games or digging an allotment, and aims to make Suffolk’s primary school children the healthiest in the country by 2012.

Finally, the teens section has been split into special pages for boys and girls. Both give advice on issues such as drugs, binge drinking and embarrassing health problems, as well as tips on fun new exercises they can try, such as dance and martial arts. This section of the site also features a message board where youngsters can interact and share their ideas about healthy living.

“Children and young people is one of our core target groups, as living a healthy lifestyle when you’re young can have a huge impact on your wellbeing later in life,” said Dr Peter Bradley, director of public health for NHS Suffolk and Suffolk County Council.

“We hope that this new microsite will become the first port of call for every family, child or teenager hoping to improve their health. As well as providing huge amounts of information, it also gives details of local sports and cooking clubs so that everyone can find it easy to get involved.

“Anyone using the site will also get the chance to make their own Healthy Ambitions Suffolk pledges, such as playing less computer games or eating more fruit. Hopefully this will show people that small changes can make a big difference, while providing them with the motivation they need to reach their own personal goals.”

You can access the site from the homepage of the main Healthy Ambitions Suffolk website, at www.healthyambitionssuffolk.nhs.uk