Our History

Building Brighter Futures Since 2006

In 2006 Professor Mary Rudolf, Professor in Child Health at the University of Leeds and Consultant Paediatrician, was asked by the Department of Health to develop recommendations for tackling child obesity through the Healthy Child Programme.   Her resulting Framework for Action reflected the international evidence about the factors associated with child obesity. They pointed to the significance of the wider influences on a child’s lifestyle, highlighting that parenting efficacy, emotional wellbeing and daily family routines all play a part in determining what a child eats and how active they are. They also emphasise the importance of sensitive and skilled support in the early years. 

It was clear that effective interventions to turn around the rising rates of child obesity would need to address these factors as well as the wider determinants reflected in the Foresight Project: Tackling Obesities:Future Choices (2007). 

And so HENRY (Health, Exercise, Nutrition for the Really Young) was born with funding from the Child Growth Foundation, the Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, alongside support from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Developed by Mary Rudolf and Candida Hunt (expert in parenting support, training and behaviour change), it combined their expertise to create a holistic approach to obesity prevention underpinned by evidence and adopting The Family Partnership Model (Davis & Day, 2010), a proven approach to supporting parents.  

Time and experience has shown that when practitioners have the confidence and skills to move beyond simply providing information and instead work in partnership with parents, they are able to initiate conversations about family lifestyle that inspire positive change. Positive change not only includes healthy eating and being more active, but also feeling happier and more confident as a parent, enjoying life more and creating the quality of home environment and family relationships that enable babies and children to learn and thrive. 

HENRY as a charity was incorporated in 2009, and since then local public health teams across the UK have incorporated HENRY not only their obesity prevention strategies but as a core early years provision for parents.  This is because it addresses relationship skills as an integral part of supporting healthy family lifestyles - and does so in a way that builds parents’ confidence and family resilience. Effective obesity prevention begins with enabling a healthy start for babies and young children which includes not only their physical but their social and emotional development, to enable children to reach their potential. 

Milestones in Our Journey

• 2006: Professor Rudolf was commissioned to develop recommendations to tackle rising childhood obesity rates as part of the Healthy Child Programme.
• 2007: Mary and Candida developed the original HENRY approach to support healthy family lifestyles.
• 2008: The launch of the Handbook for community and health practitioners Tackling Child Obesity with HENRY
• 2009: HENRY was incorporated as a charity.
• 2017: Began our international journey with partnerships in Hong Kong, Israel, and the Netherlands, sharing the HENRY approach and tailoring it to meet local cultural and community needs.
• 2020: Adapted rapidly to provide virtual services during the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to support families when they needed it most.
• 2023: Introduced the “Healthy Start Peer Support Programme,” bringing communities together to build a culture of health and well-being.

Our Global Partnerships

HENRY’s impact extends far beyond the UK, attracting international interest and forming meaningful partnerships in Hong Kong, Israel, and The Netherlands. 

In Hong Kong (2012) and Israel (2013), pilot programmes were developed to explore how HENRY’s approach could support families in different cultural settings, leading to the translation of HENRY materials into Hebrew and further expanding our global reach.

In 2017 HENRY was invited by the Amsterdam Healthy Weight Programme, working in partnership with the Bernard van Leer Foundation, to train selected staff from the First 1000 Days team and youth health service in the HENRY approach.  The Amsterdam approach to tackling child obesity remains an ongoing systems wide intervention.

These partnerships are a testament to the adaptability and effectiveness of the HENRY approach, showing how our work can empower families globally while respecting cultural and regional differences.

Our Approach: Supporting Families Holistically

From the start, HENRY has embraced a unique, strengths-based approach. We don’t tell families what to do - instead, we work alongside parents and carers, recognising their challenges, values and cultural backgrounds. Together, we identify small but meaningful changes that fit naturally into their lives, creating lasting habits that benefit the whole family.

Our holistic approach focuses on key areas, including:

• Building responsive and nurturing relationships
• Healthy eating and nutrition
• Building positive family routines
• Promoting emotional well-being
• Encouraging active lifestyles
• Supporting breastfeeding and oral health

Looking Ahead

As we continue to grow, our commitment remains the same: to give every baby and child a healthy, happy start in life. By partnering with local authorities, commissioners, health professionals, and international organisations, we aim to expand our reach and support more families in overcoming barriers to health and well-being.

Want to know more about the work we’re doing today? 

Explore our Impact page or Community Projects to see how HENRY is making a difference across the UK and beyond.