A new outdoor gym area for learners with mental and physical ill-health has opened in Harrow and has been financed by the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, or Sugar Tax.
The new facility, at the Helix Education Centre, in Harrow, features a number of units of outdoor gym equipment, which have been installed at the Uxbridge Road site.
Revenue generated from the Soft Drinks Industry Levy was provided in 2018-19 for the Healthy Pupil Capital Fund (HPCF).
This fund is intended to improve children’s and young people’s physical and mental health by improving and increasing availability to facilities for physical activity, healthy eating, mental health and wellbeing and medical conditions.
Public Health managed the funds for maintained schools in Harrow and invited schools to submit applications to outline how they intended to spend the money.
To date a number of schools in Harrow have benefited from the funding.
Cllr Christine Robson, Young People and SchoolsPortfolio Holder, said: “We are very pleased to see thenew gym facilities installed at the Helix. This will, no doubt, support the physical and mental health of young people attending the school.
“This success demonstrates the power of targeting Soft Drinks Industry Levy income to directly benefit children’sand young people’s health.”
