By HOLLY LENNON

PUPILS from a Glasgow school have vowed to give up fizzy drinks to coincide with the launch of a campaign to cut down on sugar intake.

The North Glasgow Community Food Initiative (NGCFI) have secured funding to roll out the Sugar Smart campaign across the city to help families cut down.

To celebrate the project being awarded a £5,000 grant, primary 4 and 5 pupils at Chirnsyde Primary School spent three weeks on a sugar themed project.

The class decided to give up fizzy drinks for two weeks to give them more energy and increase their concentration.

Backed by chef Jamie Oliver, the campaign aims to tackle excessive sugar consumption and will see the group hold events in the community.

A total of £5,000 has been awarded to the Glasgow Food Policy Partnership to enable the NGCFI to hold nutrition workshops and help locals understand the dangers of a high sugar diet and its long term consequences.

NGCFI’s Project Manager Greig Sandilands, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant

“Everyone knows Scotland has the second worse obesity rate on the planet, but what can we do about it locally?’

“We aim to support local families and groups with practical tips and skills to take steps towards healthier food choices.

Bob Doris, MSP for Maryhill and Springburn, pledged his support for the campaign and the work being carried out by the NGCFI, who won the Health and Wellbeing Award and the Evening Times Glasgow North West Community Champions Award.

He said: “There needs to be a greater awareness of the quantity of sugar that many of us consume each week as part of our diet. That is the first step in making informed choices for us all to be healthier in what we eat and drink each day.

“The Sugar Smart campaign is an excellent initiative encouraging individuals, groups and organisations to do just that. I am delighted to support this campaign and I welcome the approach being taken by the North Glasgow Community Food Initiative who will be running 12 nutrition workshops in with primary schools and community groups.

“I would encourage others to back this campaign, get in contact with the organisers and see how they or their organisation can assist.”

Jill Muirie, Acting Chair of the Glasgow Food Policy Partnership, added: “We are delighted that Glasgow has been selected to receive a grant for the Sugar Smart Campaign.

“This is a great opportunity for us to learn from the work in North of Glasgow about how best to communicate the importance of limiting our consumption of sugar and to help people choose healthier options and we are delighted that NGCFI will be taking this forward“.