While there has been much well-intentioned activity into reducing childhood obesity, the issue remains one that government, schools, charities, industry and individual families all still struggle to reduce. If we are to beat this, we need to work together and coordinate our efforts so that no child is left out.
And this is where you can really make a difference.
Health X is an initiative from Public Health England that looks to the digital community to seek online potential digital solutions to the country’s health issues. Plans for Health X 2 involve working with developers at a two-day hackathon in Manchester focused on reducing childhood obesity. Developers will be paid for their time.
Supported by local NHS and PHE parties, health related stakeholders and media, we would be delighted if you wanted to join and lend your expertise.
We’ll set two challenges to seek out affordable fresh digital solutions that can help children aged 5-11 and beyond eat better and move more. Working in groups of 2-3, with input from local university students, we’ll ask you to respond to one of these challenges by putting forwards a worked up prototype of a digital solution on the final afternoon of the event. The proposed product can be any type of technological innovation – e.g. app, wearable tech, game therapy etc.
There are many healthy eating/ exercise apps on the market but we are looking for digital ideas that children and parents can use as they go about their normal day. As children may not necessarily own technology – e.g. smart phones - the idea should be aimed at parents/ teachers to use with children and not targeted directly at children.
The judging panel will be made up of experts from organisations and companies across health, digital, innovation and media spheres.
The Hackathon takes place all day on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 May in Manchester.
There will be one winner picked from each challenge, however, there is no financial prize. You will instead be paid for your time as a developer.
