Daily roundup: Outdoor play, free schools and youth services
Laura McCardle
Friday, May 9, 2014
Charter created to highlight benefits of outdoor play; MPs warn of flaws in management of free school finances; and police commissioner warns of youth cuts risks, all in the news today.
The Save Childhood Movement is launching its new Children’s Outdoor Charter on Sunday's National Children’s Day UK, which this year is promoting the right of every child to enjoy more time outside. Along with the Wild Network and the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, the Save Childhood Movement is calling on parents and teachers to encourage children to play outdoors. The charter outlines the key benefits to children of getting more time to play outdoors.
MPs have said the financial management of some free schools is inadequate. The BBC reports that the public accounts committee has criticised the programme for being “overly reliant” on whistleblowers to reveal financial scandals.
Devon’s police and crime commissioner has warned that cuts to the region’s youth services could impact negatively on young people. According to the North Devon Journal, Tony Hogg fears that council proposals to shake up provision miss an opportunity to identify early support needs for young people.
Three campaigners who fought against plans to close Peterborough’s children’s centres have decided to stand as candidates in the city’s local elections. The Peterborough Telegraph reports that Angela Brennan, Teri Starr and Darren Bisby-Boyd want to fight the way the council makes its decisions as a result of their campaign.
The Regional Youth Work Unit North East, an independent charity set up to improve the lives of young people living in the region, has changed its name to Youth Focus: North East. The charity made the change to mark its 25th anniversary with the aim of delivering more projects working in direct partnerships with young people. “We felt a new identity and a clearer focus would give us an edge when it comes to winning support, attracting new partners and funding for our life changing work,” said Leon Mexter, chief executive of Youth Focus: North East.
Research has found that four out of 10 pupils in secondary schools can “barely function” without holding on to electronic gadgets. The Telegraph reports that a study by the charity Tablets for Schools also found that around two-thirds of pupils admit to taking an internet-enabled device to bed with them at night.
