SAVE THE CHILDREN ARE DELIGHTED TO BE SUPPORTING SUMMER OF PLAY FOR A SECOND YEAR.
A recent Save the Children survey found that in the North East, much like the rest of the country, rates of children playing outside are declining. The #SummerOfPlay campaign wants to change that, recognising that play is one way of ensuring children from all backgrounds can have good experiences that support their physical, emotional and social wellbeing. The Wallsend Children’s Community, in partnership with 13 schools in the area, is running programmes throughout the summer to give children and young people opportunities to play and socialise – at no extra cost to parents. I was lucky enough to visit some of the schools taking part in the programme and meet with some of the children, who were eager to tell us what they’d been up to that day. It was great to see children laughing, playing and just being children – I was even asked by one girl if I’d like to have a drawing on my face, but we compromised and agreed it would be much better on my hand – not least because I was heading to an interview with The Journal straight after.