AO and Sale Sharks have joined forces to launch a new mental health initiative that’ll be rolled-out in schools across the North West.
The ‘Are you AO-K’ initiative is a life-changing mental health programme that has been launched by Bolton-based online electricals retailer and Sale Sharks’ new headline sponsor, AO, alongside the charitable partner of the Sale Sharks rugby team, Sharks Community Trust – who use rugby and the values of the sport to change lives across the region.
It was first introduced at St Matthew’s Little Lever PrimarySchool in Bolton yesterday, with help from Sale Sharks and England star, Jason Robinson.
After recognising how difficult the past 18 months have been for young people due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AO, Sale Sharks, and the Community Trust Team teamed up to create a dedicated curriculum for local schools.
‘Are you AO-K’ is designed to raise awareness among children about positive mental health and wellbeing.
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The courses – which are being taught in schools across the North West – will last for six weeks at a time, and the programme will run in 125 schools throughout the region over the next five years, meaning that hundreds of children will get the chance to benefit from this ground-breaking scheme.
A core part of the curriculum is teaching the link between physical and mental health.
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Children will learn what a balanced diet is, and how this helps nourish both the body and the mind, and after all stages of the programme, they will be encouraged to discuss what they enjoyed about the task to help them recognise that exercise is a great way of boosting happy hormones.
As some children may not be completely comfortable with communicating their emotions verbally, they will also be taught more practical methods to manage negative feelings too.
Throughout the lessons, there will also be signposting for services such as NHS, Childline, MIND, Healthy Young Minds and Hub of Hope, and at the end of each course, wellbeing packs will be given to every child that takes part.
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We’re excited today to launch the 'Are you AO-K?' programme. Created in collaboration with Sale Sharks rugby team, the aim is to teach children how to look after their mental health and wellbeing.
“Supporting mental health and wellbeing is a really important and exciting part of our partnership with Sale Sharks,” said Vicky Monk – Director of Customer & Brand at AO.
“The last 18 months have been incredibly challenging for everyone, especially children, having faced huge disruption to their daily lives, so it’s vital that we come together to make sure young people know they can speak up about their mental health [and] at AO, we’re passionate about helping young people realise their potential.
“We hope that Are You AO-K creates a lasting, positive impact on the children involved.”
Featured Image – AO
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Greater Manchester shoppers can take part in a real-life supermarket sweep competition
Emily Sergeant
Aldi is giving Greater Manchester shoppers the chance to take part in a real-life supermarket sweep for charity.
Building on the success of Aldi Scotland’s long-running initiative – which has raised more than £60,000 for charity over the past decade – Aldi is bringing its successful ‘Supermarket Sweep’ fundraiser to England and Wales for the first time, and shoppers from across Greater Manchester will have the chance to take part for a brilliant cause.
10 winners will be selected to take part in the challenge at their local Aldi store, racing against the clock to fill their trolley with Aldi products in just five minutes.
Once the dash is complete, Aldi will donate the full value of each winning trolley to Teenage Cancer Trust, helping to support young people with cancer across the UK.
Unfamiliar with Supermarket Sweep the TV show? This is how it works.
Shoppers can take part in a real-life supermarket sweep competition / Credit: Aldi
The game consists of three teams of two, each with a clock that starts with 60 seconds on it. The teams then attempt to add as much time as possible to their clock by answering questions and riddles posed by the host. The time they accumulate determines how long they have in the ‘Big Sweep’ round to run around a studio mock-up of a supermarket, collecting shopping items.
The team with the shopping trolley filled with items of the most value wins the chance to enter the final ‘Super Sweep’ prize round.
Speaking as entries to the unique competition open this week, Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: “Our customers are always incredibly supportive of the causes we champion, and we’re pleased to be bringing this much-loved fundraising initiative to England and Wales for the first time.
“We can’t wait to give shoppers the opportunity to put their trolley-dashing skills to the test, while helping to raise vital funds for Teenage Cancer Trust. Every pound raised will help the charity continue providing specialist care and support to young people with cancer when they need it most.”
The competition is now open, with entries closing at 23:59 on Tuesday 4 August.
To enter, you’ll simply need to email [email protected] with your details for the chance to win, and you can find all the terms and conditions here.
Featured Image – Aldi
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England given potential advantage against Norway after reports of illness in World Cup camp
Danny Jones
England may have just been given a potential advantage ahead of the 2026 World Cup quarter-final against Norway, as it’s said that multiple players have been feeling sick of late.
Now, we’d never wish illness upon anyone… BUT, you certainly won’t hear us complaining about this one.
Yes, according to head coach Ståle Solbakken, some of his teammates haven’t been at their best over the last few days, but he has assured supporters that everyone is recovering well.
Speaking to the media before the upcoming clash, the manager said: “We’ve really only had Jorgen [Strand Larsen of Crystal Palace] who has had a fever, but then there’s been a bit of coughing and rasping scattered throughout [the national squad].”
He’s also admitted the Three Lions will be a tough challenge.
However, the initially reported ‘sickness bug’ is now being played down, with Solbakken noting that with his wider travelling camp having to contend with temperatures, altitude, air conditioning, flights, “changing rooms and all that […] it would be strange if something or other didn’t crop up.”
So, while it may have been exaggerated to a degree, they’ve certainly not been 100%.
The Scandinavian outfit are based at a training complex in Greensboro, North Carolina for this year’s World Cup – their first in nearly three decades – and have had to fly all across the United States for their matches in Boston, New York and Dallas thus far.
Once again, though, even the team doctor has told Norwegian press that the claims have been blown out of proportion, citing “very little fuss considering that we have been close together for almost six weeks”, and insisting that “all players are healthy now”.
Even James Corden was quizzing the opposition on the claims ahead of the fixture:
When asked about the truth in the headlines by domestic news outlet Nettavisen, he even went on to add: “So great that they believe this. We are in control.”
So perhaps there is a bit of sensationalism and/or gamesmanship at work, but that won’t stop us from hoping for a second that there’s even a shred of weakness to be capitalised on.
It remains to be seen just what condition both teams are in after the respective round of 16 thrillers – especially Thomas Tuchel’s side, who had to do it the hard way with 10 men against Mexico in that exhausting first knockout tie – but we’ll take whatever glimmer of hope we can that luck is on our side.
And regardless, it’s given England fans online plenty of material to have some fun with ahead of what is no doubt set to be another very long and stressful night this weekend.
Emily Sergeant -
15th October 2021 
