ukactive, a not-for-profit body with an aim to get more people, more active, more often, have launched a new consultation that will shape the future of children’s physical activity across the UK. They are seeking written evidence to help plan the future of the health of Britain’s children which captures the views of children, young people, parents, teachers, activity providers, social workers, policy experts, business leader, healthcare professionals and anyone else with a stake in children’s health.
The consultation will focus on developing opportunities in three key areas:
- The organisations and institutions that children and young people experience;
- The physical environment that children and young people grow up in; and
- The social environment that children interact with.
Chair of ukactive Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has said that the consultation “is a chance for you to have your say and fundamentally change the way we approach children’s health through physical activity”.
“Our next report will take us from playground to policy, so this is a chance for you to have your say and fundamentally change the way we approach children’s health through physical activity.
“It seems every day now we read more headlines about rising obesity among our children, but we must take a far broader view of children’s health, with a focus on the proven benefits of physical activity as well as diet.
“We want to hear from the experts on what really works for our children; how best to engage them in physical activity so they can build good habits that last a lifetime and massively reduce their risk not only of obesity but also cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
“Children’s health is key to their happiness and wellbeing, and healthy children are more likely to grow into the healthy, productive adults our society needs.
“It takes a whole community to raise a child and that is why ukactive needs your help to build the evidence base and shape the physical activity landscape for young people.
“By sharing your success stories from our playgrounds, activity centres and communities, you will be telling the UK – and those operating in the corridors of power – what really works for our kids.”
The evidence presented during the consultation will feed into a new report focused on the opportunities to improve children’s health which will be published at ukactive’s National Summit in September.
Anyone can make a submission to the consultation by completing a simple online questionnaire which can be found here. The deadline for responses is 5pm on Friday 1st June 2018.
