|
Fair
Play for Children News
|
Children need Freedom to Play
Children need Play to Imagine
The Right to be a Child
= The Right to Childhood
= The Right to Play
INDEX
Concerned About A Child?
FPFC NewsPublicationsOnline Library / ResearchJoin Fair PlayContact UsJobs in Play Childcare and Youth and Childcare
Fair Play exists to campaign for the Child's Right to Play, part of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of The Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is the World's most adopted Treaty, the UK has signed it. Article 31 of the Convention states:
2. States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.
HERE It's FREE
CONTACT US:
Email: FPfC1972@gmail.com
32 Longford Road, Bognor
Regis PO21 1AG, UK
M 07488-265916
Skype: FairPlayforChildren
Fair Play 50
Fifty years ago on 31st July 1972, a letter appeared in 'The
Times' in the wake of a tragedy - two boys aged nine and
seven drowned playing in a tin bath in an East End Canal in
London .... for want of somewhere safe to play.
The Letter that
strated it all:
That event led Bishop Trevor Huddleston CR, then Bishop of Stepney, to pen an angry reproach in the press, he had known both boys and their families. It was not right, he insisted, that such a deficit should have led to their deaths.
With the same zeal that marked his defiance of apartheid in his native South Africa (from which he had been exiled for his views). Father Trevor launched this campaign, soon supported by The Duke of Edinburgh, it was, and is, known as Fair Play for Children.
Its mission is to achieve that safe, but challenging, play space for every child, as now stated in Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
At Fair Play 50, how do we measure progress towards that aim? Though much has been achieved, overall can we say that there has been much movement? Yes, the community and voluntary sector in the UK has led the way, against huge odds mainly thrown in their way by the statutory sector. Oh, plenty of platitudes, 'nice thoughts', but when we examine the record of government at all levels, it has been a sad tale of non-achievement, even of hindrance.
To be blunt, always the first target for cuts especially by councils, often running counter to their statutory obligations, which goes all too often unchallenged from society. Fair Play has been and is running a campaign on this aspect, to get the law updated so that councils are held to account by the Government. YOU CAN HELP IN THIS!
MPs and Ministers, local government chiefs, councillors etc all KNOW the importance of Play, or they pay it enough lip service that, were that translated into action and resource, we'd by now have a Play-scape for Heaven on earth.
At this time, so much has been lost, trashed by cuts, our children and young people have been betrayed.
Not very celebratory? Well, what is stated does not diminish one jot the years of hard work and dedication people and organisations have contributed and continue to do so, Fair Play 50 is dedicated to making sure they have first call - just consider how much money would be saved, for example, if Councillors across the country gave up their allowances .... At a very rough guess, that would free up over £80 million a year. After all, they stand voluntarily for office, they can receive out-of-pocket expenses, but why should they also have an allowance on top of that just for being a councillor?
During the year ahead, FP50 will be aiming to secure legislative changes through dialogue with the Government. You can help by aiming letters at the your MPs to get their support. Keep in touch via this website
This is my thirty-first year as National Secretary of Fair Play for Children. I urge you to redouble the fight for a Fair Deal for Children's Play. Join Fair Play, DONATE, campaign with us!
Yours Playfully
Jan Cosgrove
National Secretary (Proud to be)
"The good news
is, I just got reconnected with a fantastic
organization. .... Hands down, they have the most
comprehensive and up to date website I have ever
seen... Outstanding. Thank you Fair Play for
Children for being part of the good news…(even when
you are sharing bad news). I needed you today!"
empoweredbyplay.org
" Fair Play gives excellent support around Play-work issues offering leaflets and policy documents as well as up to date news and information. Ideal for any organisation offering play activities with children. " cffc.co.uk
" A lively site with lots of information, including
downloadable guidelines such as Organising a Playscheme
and Child Protection in Playwork. This site also
includes excellent information on adventure playgrounds.
An excellent directory of play organisations. "
playireland.ie
