Introduction
Children’s Charter is passionate about child safety and their rights. And in particular, issues that are not getting mainstream coverage, but nevertheless are very real threats to children’s wellbeing. Our initial focus is on door safety, prejudice by policy, the effects of electromagnetic frequencies and how children can become fitter and healthier.
Door Safety
There are over 80,000* reported door-related accidents in the UK, costing the NHS over £240m every year. The consequences of many of these incidents are permanent disabilities for children and even adults.
Prejudice by Policy
Children’s Charter highlights and challenges prejudice by policy, in other words, children who for whatever reason are being denied their rights. There are many instances where Government, local authorities and schools are failing children. Our initial focus is on Special Educational Needs and Disability Children (SENDs). Articles 7 and 24 of the UN convention of the rights of persons with disabilities commits the UK government to promoting inclusive education of disabled children and young people and the progressive removal of barriers to learning and participation in mainstream education. Find out more about how Government policy, eye watering funding cuts to local authorities and a lack of training for teachers and support staff means that SEND children are being neglected in mainstream schools and by academies and free schools.
Exposure to Electrosmog
Modern lifestyles demand connectivity, but what is the long term impact on our health and more importantly, our children’s health from all this electromagnetic radiation? Research shows that because they have thinner skulls and bones, undeveloped immune systems, developing organs/body and rapidly dividing cells, they are highly sensitive beings who are disproportionately impacted by EMF exposure.
Children’s Fitness
Thanks to the tireless campaigning by Jamie Oliver and others, there’s national debate about children’s nutrition. But with concerns about children’s couch potato lifestyles and soaring childhood obesity, there also needs to be action on children’s fitness. The UK’s chief medical officer has said that an hour of exercise is the bare minimum to boost children’s health and to prevent them becoming overweight or developing heart problems. However, research published in the medical journal BMJ Open showed that almost half of all the country’s seven-year-olds lead such sedentary lives that they don’t have hour of exercise a day. Star jumps and catching games in schools simply aren’t enough to counter the effects of a sedentary lifestyle based on TV watching, computer games and checking Facebook on a mobile phone every 5 minutes. Exercises for children should work different muscle groups in the body in the same way that an adult’s workout does.