Industry programme supported local Brain Health Week
MORE than 650 school pupils were supported by the Healthy Living Programme and Scotmid Co-op in the space of a week as part of Dundee’s Brain Health Week.
As part of a collaboration between Dundee’s North East Campus schools – made up of Longhaugh Primary School, St Francis RC Primary School and Quarry View Nursery – the three schools worked together as part of an energetic programme designed and led by school staff.
The campus placed brain health at the centre of the programme and encouraged pupils to explore how food, movement and positive daily habits support healthy brains and overall wellbeing.
Part of this Brain Health Week saw the Healthy Living Programme (HLP) team host its Welby Breakfast club to give hundreds of pupils a nutritious start to their day whilst reinforcing positive messages about kicking off the day with a healthy start.
The team was supported by Scotmid Co-op as part of the Welby Breakfast, with volunteers from the retail chain also on site to help serve out breakfasts and support the morning activites.
Kathryn Neil, programme director at the HLP, said: “The Healthy Living Programme is about making healthier choices easy, engaging and accessible for children and communities.
“School breakfast programmes are a powerful way to start conversations around nutrition, energy and brain health, and it’s fantastic to see the creativity and enthusiasm shown across North East Campus.”
Scotmid Co-op has long been a supporter for Longhaugh Primary School on the campus; with over a decade working with the school, this latest initiative reflects the retail chain’s long-standing commitment to working alongside schools and local partners to deliver meaningful change.
During the Brain Health Week, pupils also had the chance to explore Babs the Brain, a large interactive inflatable which was launched in October 2025 as part of a charitable partnership between Scotmid and Alzheimer Scotland. The inflatable brain takes its name from Dame Barbara Windsor who died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2020.
Students also had the chance to take part in the STARS: My Amazing Brain sessions, with both activities led by Alzheimer Scotland. Each interactive session aimed to teach children about how the brain works and how everyday choices affect long-term health.
Lynne Ogg, head of membership & community engagement at Scotmid, said:”North East Campus is a truly special place, and the passion and creativity of the school staff has been incredible to see.
“They’ve built a week that is energetic, inclusive and full of opportunities for pupils to learn in ways that really stick.
“Being part of Brain Health Week reflects our ambitions as a community retailer, working side by side with schools and partners to help young people thrive.”
