DUCT RECEIVES SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT GRANT TO TACKLE INEQUALITIES IN INFANT ORAL HEALTH

Dundee United Community Trust (DUCT) is delighted to announce that it has received a grant of up to £76,577 to deliver a brand new initiative to support local children and their families to improve oral health and general health and wellbeing outcomes.

“Terry’s Tooth Club” was officially launched this morning at Dens Road PS Nursery by Joe Fitzpatrick MSP; Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing and Chief Dental Officer for Scottish Government Tom Ferris.  The launch event was also attended Convener of Children and Families Stewart Hunter and Audrey May, Head of Education/Chief Education Officer for Dundee City Council. 

Through the Scottish Government’s Oral Health Community Challenge Fund, “Terry’s Tooth Club” will work with local nurseries to deliver a five-week fun education programme to children aged 18 months to four years old. The project uses the Dundee United FC mascot “Terry the Terror” to engage the children in a variety of topics including how to brush your teeth, visiting the dentist and how the food you eat can have an impact on oral and general health. The project will finish with a community open event which brings families of the children together to provide valuable information on diet and cooking tips, a link with their local dentist and some fun physical activity taster sessions.

Jamie Kirk, Head of Operations for the Community Trust, said, “I’m absolutely delighted to be bringing this new and inventive project to the City and can’t wait to get started.  I’m very grateful to the Scottish Government for their support though the Oral Health Community Challenge Fund and I’m excited that we are once again able to demonstrate the unique power the Dundee United FC brand has in this City and what can be achieved when we harness that.”

Melissa Gormley in her role as Education Project Manager with the Trust added, “This is a new and amazing opportunity for the Trust to create new partnerships in the coming months with local nurseries throughout the area.  As part of this exciting new project we will be able to encourage and guide local families on how important oral health is.”

Tom Ferris, Chief Dental Officer – Scottish Government commented, “There are still families with young children living in areas of multiple deprivation where dental decay is present before the children start nursery. I believe that the key to improving oral health lies within the communities themselves and community projects like “Terry’s Tooth Club” by Dundee United Community Trust can help to contribute to our fund outcomes of improving infant oral health”.

Donna Kirk, Oral Health Improvement Lead welcomed the news by adding, “this is an exciting new project which Childsmile would be happy to support”.

The Trust would like to place on record their thanks to the Scottish Government for their support of this project and to our partners at Dens Road Primary School and Nursery for helping us to officially launch the project.  If you’d like further information on how your nursery or child can get involved please get in touch at Michael.anderson@dundeeunitedct.co.uk.