The Association of
Play Industries is launching its new electionmanifesto calling on the next government to provide urgent and sustained
funding for public playgrounds to reverse their alarming decline in recent
years.
API Chair Mark
Hardy, says: “The general election on 12 December represents a chance to demand
far-reaching changes in policies affecting children and a long overdue
opportunity to place children at the heart of politics.
"Childhood
inactivity is one of the chief causes of spiralling childhood obesity and poor
mental health among children.”
The API are asking
the next government to fund and empower local authorities to:
- Reinstate the hundreds of
playgrounds that have been closed in recent years
- Cease plans for any planned
closures
- Undertake local audits of
playgrounds in the community
- Secure the long-term
sustainability of public playgrounds by providing ringfenced funds solely
for this purpose for the duration of the next parliament and beyond
“This new manifesto
intends to restore outdoor play as children’s default leisure activity before
it is too late,” says Mark. “The overwhelming majority of children live in
urban areas where community playgrounds are their only opportunity for free,
outdoor play.”
Please share this
manifesto on your social media channels using #Election2019 and #PlayMustStay
#ChildrenAtTheHeart. You can also download and print a copy to give to election
candidates in your area.
