Category: APPG on a Fit and Healthy Childhood – Documents and Links
Short articles, news updates and opinion pieces relating to a Fit & Healthy Childhood. Contact Helen West if you would like to contribute.
Children’s Safety in Public – The office of the Children’s Commissioner Reports
The Children’s Commissioner has become concerned at the level of fear being picked up from children. Both safety when out
Catherine West MP Puts Mental Health on the Map in the Comprehensive Spending Review Debate – Helen Clark Writes
A big ‘thank you’ to Catherine West (Labour MP for Hornsey and Wood Green) for putting mental health services on
November 2020 APPG Meeting – Additional Resources
Professor Catharine Creswell of the University of Oxford’s Co-Space Project, addressed the APPG in November 2020. Her powerpoint presentation can
CHANCELLOR TIPPED TO ANNOUNCE NEW MONEY FOR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES – Helen clark Writes
HEADLINE PRIORITY IN COMPREHENSIVE SPENDING REVIEW PLANS Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is set to announce a new £500
Government Consultation on the Introduction of a total online advertising restriction for products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS)
You can read the following information in much more detail on the Government’s website.
Dr Aric Sigman considers the Sexual Psychology of Boys in the age of #metoo
Sexual Psychology … #BoysToo Today’s focus on sexual equality, consent, everyday sexism, the MeToo movement and girls’ rights can leave
Supporting Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing – A free open learn course from Early Childhood at the Open University
Dr Jackie Musgrave, Programme Lead of Early Childhood at the Open University, has told us about this new free online
15/10/20 – The Local Government Association calls for a Child Centred REcovery
The Local Government Association’s new report A child-centred recovery outlines local government’s ambitions for a child-centred recovery, drawing together every aspect of
14/10/20 – Useful Links
Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 14/10/20
Government money for research into effects of pandemic on children’s mental health is but one small step – BMJ
https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3942 One of six research projects to receive a share out of £495,000 out of £2m government funding looking at
29/09/20 – The Power of Touch – Helen Clark writes for Community Practitioner Magazine
APPG Lead Author Helen Clark was recently invited to submit an article to Community Practitioner Magazine, which is the professional
29/09/20 – A New Early Day Motion for a Covid-19 Recovery Mental Health Strategy for Children
Child Mental Health Charter Campaign Manager Helen Clark is delighted to introduce a new campaigning Early Day Motion: A Covid-19 recovery
Dr Lisa Cameron MP Questions Secretary of State Matt Hancock
Watch and listen here Today Dr Lisa Cameron MP served notice on Secretary of State Matt Hancock that a nation
11/09/20 – Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families writes to all MPs in England
Comprehensive description of Govt. support for vulnerable children and families set out in a letter from Minister Vicky Ford MP.
A Strategy for Children’s Mental Health – Helen Clark writes
On 21st July 2020, Dr Lisa Cameron MP tabled the following Question: ‘To ask the Secretary of State for Education,
Covid-19 and Children’s Food: Parents’ Priorities for Building Back Better – Beth Bradshaw of Food Active Writes
A new briefing published by Food Active and the Children’s Food Campaign shows overwhelming support for the Government extending free school
Over half of parents say their greatest worry since the pandemic is their child’s mental health
The Child Mental Health Charter Campaign has called upon the Government to prioritise children’s mental health on their return to
Children Returning to School are already Showing Anxiety Disorders
Children back at school are showing clear symptoms of distress. Yet the Government has failed to address the effects of
Two New Reports from the APPG – A Wake-Up Call for our Food Systems
APPG’s NEW REPORTS MUST BE A WAKE-UP CALL FOR OUR FOOD SYSTEMS. Today we published our latest reports as the
Children’s Society Predicts Crisis as Schools Open – Helen Clark Writes
The Children’s Society and Labour Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer MP have predicted a severe service crisis as children return
Minister commits to publish White Paper to ‘pave the way’ for a reform of the original 1983 Mental Health Act.
BUT WHEN? AND WHERE IS THE MENTION OF CHILDREN? The Child Mental Health Charter Campaign is grateful to Labour MP
‘Times’ agrees with us: ‘Early programming in the womb predisposes a developing baby to obesity later in life’ – Helen Clark writes
On 28th July, ‘The Times’ resident health expert, Dr Mark Porter warned: ‘Saying ‘Get on a bike’ will not solve
Rome wasn’t built in a day but this is a good foundation! – Baroness Floella Benjamin responds to the new obesity strategy
Baroness Benjamin, Vice-Chair of the APPG, has welcomed the Government’s new Obesity Strategy, renews the call for a Cabinet-level Minister
DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE ANNOUNCE FUND TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19
Through their Royal Foundation, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enabled £1.8 million to support key workers and those with
Forthcoming Obesity Strategy – Helen Clark says It’s “Glass Half Full”
The APPG’s Lead Author, Helen Clark, has welcomed ‘noises off’ about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s forthcoming Obesity Strategy; predicted for
A Record 80% surge in calls to National Domestic Abuse Helpline spells danger for children – Helen Clark Writes
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline has received an 80% surge in calls for help in June amidst warnings of a
Impact of summer camp cancellation on children’s mental health
The latest threat to children’s mental health and wellbeing is the mass cancellation of summer camps according to worried parents
Services will be ‘deluged’ by mental health referrals when school doors open in September, experts predict
Teachers and health service providers have predicted a huge crisis in children’s mental health needs when schools re-open in September
Teachers fear a rise in hunger in children returning to school in September – Magic Breakfast Survey
Magic Breakfast is a charity that provides school breakfasts to vulnerable children. They conducted a survey which assessed teacher’s views
IS PRIME MINISTER JOHNSON TEARING UP PROMISE TO REFORM THE 1989 MENTAL HEALTH ACT? Helen Clark Asks . . .
Campaigners desperate for a new Mental Health Act during the course of this Parliament may have their hopes dashed after
Child Suicides May Have Increased During Lockdown
CHILD SUICIDES MAY HAVE INCREASED DURING LOCKDOWN New research from the National Child Mortality Database suggests that child suicides may
A New Working Group Report: WELLBEING AND NURTURE: PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SECURITY IN CHILDHOOD
We are proud to announce today’s publication of our latest report: “WELLBEING AND NURTURE: PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SECURITY IN CHILDHOOD”,
10/08/20 – WILL THERE BE EXTRA RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS THAT WILL NEED CHILD MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES POST-LOCKDOWN? – BARONESS MASSEY ASKS IN THE LORDS
Read the full debate here. My Lords, some children who have been out of school for such a long time
Helen Clark Writes in Nursery Management Today – Let a Fairer Deal for Children be a Legacy of COVID-19
Our Lead Author, Helen Clark, has an article in the latest issue of Nursery Management Today, in which she writes:
The Impact of COVID-19 on Children’s Mental Health – Reply from the Secretary of State for Education to Dr Lisa Cameron MP
You may remember back in May that Dr Lisa Cameron and 65 fellow MPs wrote to Gavin Williamson about the
The Effect of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Children’s mental Health and a New Early Day Motion – helen Clark Writes
In the December 2019 Queen’s Speech, Boris Johnson announced his intention to reform the 30-year-old 1989 Mental Health Act during
New Campaign Pressing for Summer Holiday Food Provision to be Made Permanent
The Children First Alliance was delighted when, following the boost given by the intervention of Marcus Rashford and the appearance
Dr Aric Sigman on the Effects of Parental Drinking on their children’s future drinking behaviour
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) asked Dr Aric Sigman to summarise his response to a May article about Covid-19 and
Dr Eunice Lumsden, Head of Early Years at the University of Northampton, calls for a new reality in Early Childhood, Education and Care
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing
25/06/20 – The Early Years is the Forgotten Sector, Writes Shannon Pite of the Early Years Alliance
The Forgotten Sector report Early years membership organisation the Early Years Alliance has published a new report, The Forgotten Sector, which
23/06/20 – Playgrounds to Re-Open at Last – Helen Clark Writes
Helen Clark, APPG Lead Author, has welcomed the announcement today that Prime Minster Boris Johnson is releasing the nation’s children
22/06/20 – risks for children relative to Covid-19 – Robin Sutcliffe of the Children’s Play Policy Forum Writes
At this crucial stage in the Covid-19 lockdown there has been a lack of clarity on the statistics relating to
16/06/20 -Victory in the #SchoolmEALS4summer campaign – Phil Royal Writes
A fantastic victory has been achieved with Government forced to continue school meal vouchers through the summer holidays! Many organisations
12/06/20 – Summer Holiday Food Provision – Join In the online “march”
You have no doubt seen and heard a lot of mention in the news and online about summer holiday food