The Raising the Nation Play Commission has been launched by the founder of baby food brand Ella’s Kitchen, along with the Centre for Young Lives.
The 12-month Commission will hear from experts in children’s play and wellbeing, as well as parents, children and young people across the country, to produce a report making recommendations for post-election government policy.
Law firm Hogan Lovells is working with the Commission to help identify whether an effective and enforceable right to play exists in law in England and Wales and to identify opportunities to provide protections for play.
According to the Commission, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was ratified by the UK in 1991, but has never been directly incorporated into domestic law. Hogan Lovells will seek to establish the extent to which current law across the UK upholds the UNCRC, and where it fails to do so.
The Commission will also explore:
- Obstacles to play such as ‘No Ball Games’ signs in residential areas and reduced breaktimes during the school day.
- Whether families should have the right to sue housing developers and local authorities which construct housing without including adequate play facilities.
- The impact of social media on children’s play.
The Commission will be chaired by Paul Lindley with support from former Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield, who leads the Centre for Young Lives.
Lindley said, ‘Play is vital for our children’s development, education and mental health. The best investment we can make for the UK’s future is in our children’s wellbeing, and in this election campaign it’s time our politicians put them first.
Longfield added, ‘Paul is an established expert on children’s wellbeing and we are delighted that the Play Commission will be one of the first major projects of the Centre for Young Lives. We look forward to working with Paul, experts, parents, and children on developing an ambitious and creative play strategy for the next government to implement.’
- Parents and children are being encouraged to share their experiences of restricted access to play in their communities. For more information and to contribute visit: https://www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/play-commission/call-for-evidence
