Background
Three out of four children and young people in Denmark consume more sweetened beverages than recommended, and approximately half of those aged 13-20 consume more than two litres per week. At the same time, children and young people do not always have easy access to cold drinking water in their everyday lives.
Drinking habits are shaped by both individual choices and factors such as availability, physical environments, social norms, routines and local policies. Partnership for Water therefore brings together stakeholders with expertise in children and young people, food and meals, water supply, education, municipal practice and health promotion.
Aim and pilot testing
The pilot phase aims to establish and develop the partnership and test initiatives that can promote healthy drinking habits. The partners are developing shared objectives and roles, building knowledge about children's and young people's drinking habits, and preparing a strategy for implementation and organisational integration.
Initiatives are developed within three areas: culture and policy, increased accessibility, and municipal settings. As a central component of the pilot, water stations are being installed in schools, educational institutions, clubs and sports facilities in the municipalities of Roskilde, Halsnæs, Brønderslev, Lemvig and Herning. Their use and implementation are being monitored to generate knowledge about how improved access to cold drinking water can support a healthy water-drinking culture.
The initiatives are developed with children and young people, municipalities, professionals, educational institutions and civil society organisations to ensure local relevance and feasibility.
Research and evaluation
SDCC contributes expertise in the development, implementation and evaluation of complex health promotion initiatives. The research activities include developing a systems map of the factors influencing children's and young people's drinking habits, a programme theory, and the overall research and evaluation design. SDCC also contributes to refining and evaluating the pilot activities.
The evaluation adopts a formative and systems-oriented approach. Knowledge generated during the pilot phase is continuously fed back into the partnership to support learning and adjustments to the initiatives and the organisation of the partnership.
Target groups and settings
The target group is children and young people aged 0-20 years and their parents. Particular attention is given to children and young people in socially disadvantaged circumstances and to settings where less healthy drinking habits are prevalent or access to cold drinking water is limited.
The initiatives are developed and tested in settings including early childhood education and care, primary and lower-secondary schools, preparatory basic education and training institutions (FGU), vocational education and training (VET) institutions, after-school clubs and sports facilities.
Partners
Partnership for Water comprises Center for Sundt Liv og Trivsel, Madkulturen, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, the Danish Water and Wastewater Association (DANVA), FGU Danmark, Erhvervsskolernes ElevOrganisation (EEO), Danske Skoleelever, Local Government Denmark (KL), and the Danish Agricultural and Fisheries Agency.
The pilot is conducted with the municipalities of Roskilde, Halsnæs, Brønderslev, Lemvig and Herning.
Project period
Pilot: March 2025-December 2026. Programme phase will commence in January 2027 and continue until the end of 2030.
Funding
The Partnership for Water is funded by Center for Sundt Liv og Trivsel.
Read more about Partnership for Water.