National School Meals Week has been running since 1993 and is organised by the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA). The week encourages schoolchildren to enjoy a healthy school meal that meets the nutritional standards laid down by the Government.

Get Remembering Day on Friday November 11 is part of National School Meals Week when young people across the country will be encouraged to think about those who have given their lives or been injured during war.

Children in Cardiff will be able to enjoy a Get Remembering themed menu which features traditional British fare such as roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and gravy. The menus for the day will include information on many foods that were rationed during the war years.

Cardiff children have played a key role in promoting Get Remembering Day, following the visit of Falklands War hero Simon Weston (pictured) to Hawthorn Primary School earlier this year to film a video message, which now features on the National School Meals Week website, as part of the National School Meals Week campaign.

Former Welsh Guardsman Simon enjoyed a tasty lunch after speaking to the children at the Llandaff North school about Remembrance, the wartime diet and the importance of eating healthily.

Cardiff Catering, the Council’s in-house education catering service that provides approximately 33,000 meals a day at over 140 locations across the city, is a strong supporter of National School Meals Week. The service is committed to providing healthy, nutritionally-balanced meals using top quality produce from ethical sources.

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “Eating a healthy, nutritious meal during the school day is essential for children’s wellbeing. A school lunch helps young people recharge their batteries to be at their best for afternoon lessons.

“We’re very proud of our school meals service in Cardiff and are pleased to once again be supporting National School Meals Week.”

Kate Carlyle from Newport won over the judges with her sea bream with chilli, garlic and tomato.

In the run-up to this weekend’s Cardiff Harbour Festival (August 27 – 29), the competition to find a prize catch fish dish was launched by Cardiff Harbour Authority in partnership with Jamie’s Italian in the city centre.

The restaurant was looking for dishes with an Italian flavour, in line with their existing menu, and with Jamie Oliver leading a crusade against the oceans’ endangered species they wanted recipes that do not involve Salmon, Prawns, Cod, Haddock and Tuna.

Kate’s winning recipe will now be included on the specials menu at Jamie’s Italian for a limited time and will also be demonstrated by fishmongers from the National Federation of Fishmongers at the Harbour Festival on Saturday, August 27 – Kate’s birthday – at 12.30pm.

Kate’s prize also includes dinner for two at Jamie’s Italian where she will be able to try out the chef’s take on her own recipe, and an overnight stay at Future Inns, Cardiff Bay.

The sea bream meal came up against strong competition from other shortlisted entries of linguini with yellow courgette and smoked mackerel by Leah Ashe and penne with ginger, crab and asparagus by Judy Alloway, before a panel of experts plumped for Kate’s dish. Judy’s meal was judged to be second and she will receive a gift voucher for Jamie’s Italian while Leah will receive a Jamie Oliver cook book.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “Many congratulations to Kate. I’m sure she will feel extremely honoured to have her recipe grace the menu at Jamie’s Italian. This is been a really exciting competition of a very high standard that builds up nicely to the Cardiff Harbour Festival this weekend when thousands of people will be drawn to the waterfront for a Bank Holiday Weekend packed full of fun and family entertainment.

“Kate’s dish will be demonstrated at the festival on Saturday so this will be a great chance for other budding chefs to find out what gave her recipe all the right ingredients for success.

“This competition has been a great example of the Council working in partnership with private businesses and event organisers to add value to the city’s event programme. It is vital that we work with commercial partners to deliver first-class events in the city that are value for money.

“Offering a prize of this calibre enhances the reputation of the Cardiff Harbour Festival. I personally would like to thank Jamie’s Italian and The Federation of Fishmongers for supporting the inaugural ‘Find a Fish Dish’ competition.”

Mary Needham, General Manager of Jamie’s Italian Cardiff said:  “Jamie is trying to promote an awareness of “the fish we should be eating” and a more educated approach to how we think about fish. The idea is that by using a wider variety of fish, sea levels will remain balanced and we will not see a massive depletion of the most popular or well known fish, as we are seeing at the moment.”

Cardiff Harbour Festival will once again serve up its annual portion of Fish and Ships to amuse and entertain. Features to watch out for are the British Fish Craft Championships on Sunday as the country’s top fishmongers try to out-fillet each other, the Welsh National Oyster Opening Championships on Monday, Tall Ships, sea shanty singers, a continental market, fairground rides and music and much, much more.

Entries need to be received by August 21 and entries should be sent to  events@cardiff.gov.uk with further information on www.cardiff-festival.com and www.jamiesitalian.com

The Cardiff Harbour Festival takes place over August Bank Holiday weekend an (August 27 – 29) and organiser Cardiff Harbour Authority have teamed up with Jamie’s Italian in the city centre to launch a competition to find a fish dish that will grace their specials menu – with the winning dish cooked for visitors at the festival.

The competition was launched in July by chefs at Jamie’s Italian along with Nick Woods, the current British Fish Craft Champion who works for Cardiff-based Ashton’s Fishmongers. The restaurant is looking for dishes with an Italian flavour, in line with their existing menu, and with Jamie Oliver leading a crusade against the oceans’ endangered species they want recipes that do not involve Salmon, Prawns, Cod, Haddock and Tuna.

The winning recipe will receive the honour of having their dish on the menu at Jamie’s Italian, plus dinner for two in the restaurant and a copy of Jamie Oliver’s latest book, along with an overnight stay at Future Inns, Cardiff Bay. Entries should be sent by August 21 to events@cardiff.gov.uk with further information on www.cardiff-festival.com and www.jamiesitalian.com

Cllr. Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture said: “It’s great to work with Jamie’s Italian on this exciting opportunity for all the budding Jamies out there. It’s also a great link to the Cardiff Harbour Festival which will once again attract many thousands to the waterfront over Bank Holiday weekend.”

The winning recipe will be judged by a panel of experts. Mary Needham, General Manager of Jamie’s Italian Cardiff said:  “Jamie is trying to promote an awareness of “the fish we should be eating” and a more educated approach to how we think about fish. The idea is that by using a wider variety of fish, sea levels will remain balanced and we will not see a massive depletion of the most popular or well known fish, as we are seeing at the moment. This is a great opportunity for us to work with Cardiff Council to promote this message. The winning recipe must be of a good, simple rustic Italian theme, with a source of origin, and a reason why they are using that particular fish.”

A key feature of the Cardiff Harbour Festival is the three-day British Fish Craft Championships 2011, featuring the skills of the best fishmongers.

Jonathan Adams, chair of The British Fish Craft Championships 2011 said: “We are delighted to be part of this competition. One of our aims at the National Federation of Fishmongers (organisers of the British Fish Craft Championships) is to encourage sustainability. Consumers in the UK eat huge amounts of salmon and cod, but tend to overlook other species, which is a great pity.  UK waters produce a vast array of fish with great taste, and firm flesh, making them ideal for a wide range of dishes. Anything that can be done to encourage the public to broaden their fish eating tastes is extremely positive.”

Cardiff Harbour Festival serves up its annual portion of Fish and Ships to amuse and entertain. Features to watch out for are:

• British Fish Craft Championships on the Sunday as the country’s top fishmongers try to out-fillet each other
• Welsh National Oyster Opening Championships on the Monday – open to all
• the Breitling Wing Walkers flying high over Cardiff Bay on Sunday at 12pm and Monday at 4.30pm.
• Tall Ships, including the ever-popular Matthew
• continental market stocking delicious treats from across the world
• sea shanty singers
• comedy walkabouts
• fairground rides and music
• The Last Resort – an alternate end of pier attraction, including the Best Dressed Pirate and Sea Creature Competition at 3.30pm on Monday afternoon.

A celebration day was held at the Star Centre in Splott for the 30 families that have completed the latest courses that have been running since May.

To mark their achievements each family member was awarded a certificate for completing the course and enjoyed a range of activities such as party games and a bouncy castle.

The Food and Fitness for Families programme aims to encourage families with children aged 12 and under to improve their eating habits and become more active.

It is designed to teach both parents and children about the importance of healthy eating, getting active and how to play together. Sessions are delivered by the Food and Fitness team and are supported by trained volunteers.

The programme is made up of fun practical learning sessions that take place after school exploring food awareness and active lifestyles as well as healthy eating, food labelling and ways to make meals and recipes healthier.

There are also physical activity sessions which include fun games, a park visit and different sporting activities in community settings.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “The latest families to have completed this course should be very proud of their achievements and praised for their decision to lead fit and active lifestyles.

“The organisers of the project continue to help educate children and adults about the benefits of making changes so they can enjoy healthy lifestyles.”

Following the success of three previous courses and through a successful application to the Big Lottery Fund, the scheme has expanded to include families in the Plasnewydd, Penylan, Canton, Butetown and Grangetown areas including neighbouring wards.

Due to the success of running a summer term programme at Severn Primary School based in Canton, the project will be looking to work in partnership with other primary schools for the next programme in September.

Family programmes are run with the support of volunteers who are offered training and experience relating to nutrition, physical activity and play.

For more information about volunteering on the Food and Fitness for Families programme please email wayoflife@cardiff.gov.uk or call 029 2078 8416. The Food and Fitness for Families Project is delivered by Cardiff Council in partnership with Cardiff & Vale University Health Board and is funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

Cardiff Council’s Public Protection Team in partnership with the Food Standards Agency Wales (FSAW) has celebrated the range of businesses that have achieved a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme Score of 5 since October 2010.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, provides information on food hygiene standards to help people to choose where to eat out or shop for food.

Food outlets, such as restaurants, takeaways and pubs, are inspected by food safety officers from Cardiff Council, to check that their hygiene standards meet legal requirements. The hygiene standards found at these inspections are rated on a scale ranging from zero at the bottom (which means ‘urgent improvement necessary’) to a top rating of five (‘very good’).

These ratings are available for anyone to view on the FSA website at food.gov.uk/ratings and the food business are  given a sticker and certificate and encouraged to display these at the entrance to their premises.

In addition the celebratory event allowed the businesses to gain information on the Healthy Options Award which is run by the Health Improvement Team in Cardiff Council.  The morning included an enlightening talk from a local food business woman Kemi Nevins who runs Kemis Café at Craft in the Bay.

Cllr Ed Bridges, Chairman of Licensing Committee & Public Protection Committee said, “It is very good news for residents and visitors to Cardiff that so many food businesses are hitting the top rating for hygiene.  These ratings really matter to people and means they can enjoy safe food in confidence.  We always seek to encourage everyone to make informed choices with their food as this scheme plus the Healthy Options Award helps people do just that.”

Dr Sharon Hopkins, Executive Director of Public Health Wales Cardiff and Vale University Health Board also encouraged businesses to apply for the Healthy Options Award saying;

“Being a healthy city means that we aim to encourage individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices as well as encourage businesses and organisations to provide a supportive environment that promotes good health.  Cardiff’s food businesses have a huge part to play in influencing the health of Cardiff’s population, and the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and the Healthy Options Award recognises those businesses that are playing their part”.

The Healthy Options Award aims to encourage food businesses that cater to the public to provide healthier options to customers, through the use of healthier catering practices, increasing fruit and vegetables and starchy carbohydrates and decreasing fat especially saturated fat, sugar and salt. If you are a Cardiff food business and would like to find out if your business is eligible please contact the Health Improvement Team on 02920871161.

If you would like further information about the FHRS please contact the Food Safety Team on 029 20871128.

It’s a disgusting mess that attracts vermin and creates a health hazard, but a few Cardiff citizens are still putting food in black bags. This was never more graphically illustrated than when a the Cardiff Council Waste Management team came across this scene this week somewhere in Cathays or Plasnewydd.

The picture above shows the mess created when just one black bag filled with food waste is ripped open by gulls.  Factor in the wind and pedestrians finding it difficult to avoid, this unsightly mess can then spread a considerable distance up and down the street.

This is an area where food caddies have been issued; there is no need to put food waste in black bags.

Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Cllr Margaret Jones said, “This horrendous mess could easily have been avoided.  There is no excuse whatsoever for putting food waste in black bags, every household in the area has been issued with a food caddy.  The vast majority of residents work with us to help us keep the streets clean but as you can see, it can take one bag to create a terrible impression of a street.  We urge all residents to deal with their waste responsibly and have consideration for their neighbours.”

Cardiff Council increases recycling options city wide

Cardiff Council has further underlined its commitment to recycling with the opening of four new facilities this year.  Working closely with the Libraries and Leisure departments, the Council’s Waste Management service has opened up recycling bring-sites at Llanrumney Library, Maindy Pool, Grangetown Library and Western Leisure Centre.  These new facilities greatly enhance the opportunities for Cardiff citizens to easily and conveniently recycle their waste.

Additional Recycling opportunities are as follows:

Llanrumney Library

• Mixed paper and card
• Mixed glass and plastic

Maindy Pool

• Cardboard
• Paper and Magazines
• Plastic and glass bottles and jars
• Metal food and drink cans

Grangetown Library

• Mixed paper and card
• Mixed glass and plastic
• Western Leisure Centre
• Paper and card
• Mixed glass and plastic
• Food and drink cans

Cllr Margaret Jones, Executive Member for the Environment said, “It is more important than ever to recycle our waste and these new facilities will add to the already extensive recycling offered in the City.  The sites have been carefully chosen and spaced to allow the most convenient access possible for as many of our citizens as possible.  Recycling of waste is a top priority for Cardiff Council and these bring-sites will further help people to make recycling part of their everyday routine.”

The plans follow a review of mental health services by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. The Welsh Assembly Government has earmarked in excess of £90million for the new unit. This funding will be released following satisfactory completion of a Full Business Case. 

The purposed-designed unit will include:

• 125 beds and more community services;
• Enhanced quality, safety and effectiveness of specialist in-patient care for adults;
• Improved privacy and dignity for patient;
• Assessment, treatment and rehabilitation; and,
• 24/7 specialist medical support and other facilities at the University Hospital, Llandough.

Mrs. Hart said: “We have invested significantly in new child, adult and elderly mental health facilities across Wales.

“We are committed to continually improving mental health facilities. Once opened, this development will improve the care for patients and the working environment for staff. By bringing together a range of services and staff under one roof will ensure we maximise the skills of all staff for the benefit of patients.

“We are maintaining our investment in the health service in cash terms over the next three years – despite the impact of the UK Government’s cuts to the Welsh budget.”

Mutale Merrill, Vice-Chair of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board – which runs the University Hospital, Llandough – said: “This decision is a key step forward in our work to improve local services for people with mental health needs. The benefits of a single, purpose-built unit on the University Hospital Llandough site, co-located with other health services will be enormous.”

Dr John Lewis, Senior Consultant and Divisional Director for Mental Health Services, Cardiff and Vale UHB, added: “This is good news for patients, staff and the community. Our plans reflect the outcome of a wide public consultation on how we will deliver services in the future. It is important to remember that, while the new inpatient unit is a vital part of the model, we are also working hard to develop our community-based services.”

The Group took up this issue following responses to parliamentary questions, which revealed that implementation was the responsibility of individual NHS organisations and progress was not monitored centrally.

The Report’s Key Findings:

• Serious challenges to the delivery of psychological services, particularly CBT, to all service users with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, as called for by the Guideline
• Lack of focus on the requirements for more comprehensive services such as assistance with employment and partnerships with relevant local organisations
• Confusion and difficulties in providing improved physical health screening for service users with a diagnosis of schizophrenia
• Inconsistency in the services provided across Trusts and the potential for sharing of good practice in areas such as monitoring adherence to medication

The report highlights the difficulties mental health service users face in accessing what should be basic treatment and the importance in maintaining the growth in funding for mental health services.   The report is based on responses from over half of the mental health trusts in England and Wales.

A copy of the report can be obtained at: www.appg-mentalhealth.org.uk/appgmh-news.html

Philip "Silver fox" Schofield and Eastenders' Heather, actress Cheryl Fergison are backing the Diabetes UK Get Serious campaign

A shocking number of children are being rushed to hospital suffering from a potentially fatal diabetic condition, says the National Director of Diabetes UK Cymru, Dai Williams.

More than 120 children in Wales were admitted to accident and emergency departments in a year with a potentially fatal diabetic complication, leading health charity Diabetes UK Cymru warns today.

One hundred and twenty one children out of the 1,419 children and young people diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in Wales were admitted to hospital with potentially life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), according to the latest available figures.

DKA happens when blood glucose levels are high (hyperglycaemia) and causes nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, rapid breathing and, if left untreated, may lead to coma and death. It requires urgent hospital treatment.

The UK has the fourth highest incidence of Type 1 diabetes in children (25 per 100,000 a year) in Europe and the lowest number of children attaining good diabetes control.

Diabetes UK Cymru is concerned that in many cases DKA occurs because Type 1 diabetes is not diagnosed early enough.

Dai Williams, National Director of Diabetes UK Cymru, said: “It’s shocking to see such high numbers of children being rushed to A&E with this life-threatening complication in Wales.

“We know from our previous research that specialist diabetes staff report an increase in emergency hospital admissions whenever there are cuts in services.

“Children and their parents desperately need better access to paediatric specialist diabetes teams.

“The number of emergency admissions could be reduced significantly with investment in appropriate care, diabetes advice and practical self-management support.

“The quality of life for children with diabetes is at stake so we must act now.”

The symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include increased thirst, extreme tiredness, weight loss, blurred vision, genital itching and passing water frequently (particularly in night).

In Type 1 diabetes, these symptoms happen faster than Type 2 diabetes, often within a matter of weeks.

A 2008 Diabetes UK Cymru poster warning about the symptoms of DKA is available free of charge from: Diabetes UK Cymru on 029 20668276 or email wales@diabetes.org.uk.

Some women are both say Cardiff Uni

A joint Cardiff University and NHS study designed to establish whether encouraging obese pregnant women to eat more healthily and take more exercise has a positive impact on both mother and child has received a £1M funding boost.

The Healthy Eating and Lifestyle in Pregnancy (HELP) project, funded by the National Prevention Research Initiative, will see researchers from Cardiff University’s Department of Primary Care and Public Health work alongside NHS midwives and ‘Slimming World’ consultants to help encourage obese pregnant women to moderate their weight gain during pregnancy and lose weight after the birth of their child by eating healthily and doing regular exercise.

Obesity in pregnancy remains a growing problem with an estimated 1 in 5 women in the UK attending antenatal care being defined as obese. Obesity is linked to increased risk of complications during pregnancy or childbirth and, in some cases, can result in pregnancy-induced hypertension, induction of labour and caesarean section.

Being overweight or obese has also been identified as a factor in more than half of maternal deaths between 2003-2005 and antenatal care costs are higher in overweight and obese women.

Dr Sharon Simpson from Cardiff University’s Department of Primary Care and Public Health, who will lead the study, said: “Pregnancy is a key time of change in women’s lives, when intervening on diet and physical activity could have a long term impact on both mother and child. This study is a novel way of working, involving a partnership between the NHS and a commercial organisation, to deliver an intervention which we hope will help women to manage their weight.”

Karen Jewell, Consultant Midwife with Cardiff and Vale ULHB and advisor to the HELP study said: “Initial findings from a pilot study have been encouraging; we found that receiving this type of advice has helped pregnant women moderate their weight gain, whereas during previous pregnancies they’ve gained up to five stone. Not putting on additional weight has allowed them to enjoy a normal birth and given them more confidence.”

“Midwives and Obstetricians are keen to support women in addressing lifestyle changes in pregnancy as this is important, not just for pregnancy, but for their future family’s health. “

The study, which starts in January 2010, aims to recruit 570 women through 20 recruitment centres across England and Wales.

The results of the study will be published in 2013 and, if successful, it is hoped the project will be rolled-out to maternity units across England and Wales.

The HELP study will be supported by the South East Wales Trials Unit based in Cardiff University’s School of Medicine at the University Hospital of Wales.