Antibiotic Guardian Schools Ambassadors

For 2022 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW, 18-24 November 2022) the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are encouraging public health and healthcare professionals, as well as scientists to connect with local schools and promote a toolkit of lesson resources and a newsletter item on important public health topics; microbes, hygiene, infection prevention and antibiotics – this will be achieved through the Antibiotic Guardian Schools Ambassadors programme, which is now in its fourth year.

Ambassadors are encouraged to provide a teaching session during WAAW, supported by a toolkit of lesson-planning resources. There are other ways that Ambassadors can be involved however, if they are constrained for time or would prefer not to enter schools. Ambassadors can share the toolkit with schools for them to provide a session during WAAW, Ambassadors can also promote an article focussed on antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention and hygiene for schools to include in their newsletters, Ambassadors may also be interested in recording a short ‘Why tackling antimicrobial resistance is important to me’ video, to be used during a lesson, in order to share their unique perspectives. The toolkit and newsletter item resources will be circulated in due course, and in plenty of time for ambassadors and schools to plan ahead of WAAW.

How will this benefit your local school/community?

• Improve hygiene and subsequent illness in schools/communities
• Use evidence-based resources linked to the English National Curriculum
• Receive expert advice and experience on public health topics
• Understand the roles of Healthcare Professionals in tackling antimicrobial resistance
• Support application for Healthy Schools status

Next Steps

• Register your interest to help pilot the Antibiotic Guardian Schools’ Ambassadors scheme
• Contact a school(s) as soon as possible to arrange a date/time (template email available)
• Ask the school(s) to register as a participating organisation

Please fill in the short registration form below and then use the link at the bottom of the form to download a template email to your local school headteachers in order to request their involvement.

For any questions please email Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope at ESPAUR@ukhsa.gov.uk.