Schools within Sefton have been supporting the Giving Up Loving Pop (GULP) campaign. Since the start of the year over 26 schools have taken part with over 70 classes being taught about the harm of drinking too many sugary drinks. Over 2500 pupils learnt about the benefits of swapping fizzing drinks to water and milk from sessions delivered by Active Sefton and Everton in the Community.

The campaign was run in partnership with Food Active and Seton Council and ended with a competition between schools. Year 5 and 6 classes had to design and deliver an assembly to their school about GULP. Pupils had the freedom to look at the competition from a number of angles, including:

Health harms of drinking sugary drinks
Benefits of drinking water and/or milk
Money you can save by switching from sugary drinks to water
Sugary drinks and the damage to the environment

Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing Councillor Ian Moncur said

“We have been delighted with the imagination and creativity shown by schools that have entered. What has been very clear is that schools and pupils within Sefton understand the importance of not drinking sugary drinks.”

First prize went to Trinity St Peters, in Formby with Highly Commended awards going to All Saints Catholic School in Bootle, Churchtown Primary in Southport and Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School, Seaforth.