Chester FC Community Trust coaches have delivered more than 100 hours of the Give Up Loving Pop (GULP) programme – helping hundreds of children make healthier choices around sugary drinks and understand the impact these choices have on their health, energy and performance.

Supported with funding from the Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Public Health, the campaign is making a real difference in classrooms and playgrounds across Chester and Ellesmere Port, with 14 primary schools having benefitted so far.

GULP was created to help children understand the health harms of overconsumption of sugary drinks, not only for the impact it can have on their teeth, but also the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Offered to schools free of charge, the programme is delivered over four weeks, with each session combining a workshop on oral health with fun sport and physical activity sessions, providing children with the information and tools to make healthier choices, challenging them to swap their favourite sugary drinks for water, milk and other less sugary drinks.

Feedback from teachers has highlighted how effective the sessions have been in helping pupils understand how much sugar is hidden in some popular drinks, with encouraging reports of children making the choice to switch to healthier options, and also supporting school staff with CPD.

The Community Trust is looking forward to continuing to deliver GULP and reaching even more schools and children as the programme continues

If you’d like to find out more or organise GULP for your school, contact kalvin.williams@chesterfc.com or anna.price@chesterfc.com.