The Association of Play Industries has signed a letter to the Telegraph with over 100 other children’s sector organisations, calling for children to be at the heart of recovery plans. You can read the letter on the Telegraph website here or on the NCB website here. The related news item on the Telegraph’s front page is here.
The Telegraph has also launched its own ‘Campaign for Children’ alongside an interview with the Children’s Commissioner.
Mark Hardy, API Chair says:
“Ministers must address the harm caused to children by repeated lockdowns as a matter of urgency and put in place long-term plans to support them,”
“Children’s organisations are calling for a Summer of Play to help them to recover. Children have been through so much and the emphasis should now be on freedom, fun and friends.
“Public playgrounds are the number one location for children’s free, outdoor play (away from their homes). These community play spaces are a vital tool in helping to alleviate the damaging effects of the restrictions on children’s everyday lives, particularly for those 1 in 8 households without gardens.
“Public play has been drastically underfunded for several years, leaving many children with nowhere to play. We are calling on the Government, as part of their recovery plans and their aim to ‘Build Back Better’, to prioritise children. Hundreds of playgrounds are closing or falling into disrepair and central, dedicated and sustained funding for public playgrounds is urgently needed.”
Please support this campaign by sharing API posts on Twitter, Linked In and Facebook using #ChildrenAtTheHeart.
Thank you!
Notes to Editors
The Association of Play Industries (API) www.api-play.org is the lead trade body within the play sector and campaigns at the highest levels for policy recognition for play. Its members are leading manufacturers, installers, designers and distributors of both outdoor and indoor play equipment and safety surfacing. Founded in 1984, the API represents 85% of the play industry.
The API operates under the umbrella of the Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA), the national trade body responsible for representing Sports and Play Associations in the UK’s sport and play industries. www.sportsandplay.com
Media Contact
Mary Lubrano, Head of Communications. For further comment contact Mary on e: [email protected] m: 07999 550452
