The Association of
Play Industries is ramping up their election activity to ensure that the
inactivity crisis facing children is placed at the heart of politics this
election and beyond.
API Chair, Mark
Hardy says: “The massive decline in public playgrounds is a public health
issue. Our Play MustStay campaign highlights that children are not playing outside anymore.
“Unless these
playgrounds are reinstated and a commitment made to protect community
playgrounds, children will continue to stay indoors on their screens – alone
and inactive – at great cost to their physical and mental health.”
The API has now
joined forces with the Children and Young
People’s Mental Health Coalition (CYPMHC), an organisation comprising
leading bodies concerned with children’s mental health.
“We joined with 147
other organisations in a major social media event – #ChildrenAtTheHeart –
launching our new election manifesto
and signing a joint open letter to election leaders asking them to remember
that it’s children who will be most affected by the outcome of next week’s
election.”
The API also
attended an Election Reception hosted by the Sports
and Recreational Alliance where delegates pitched their questions to party
representatives.
“It’s vital that we
continue to keep the pressure on all political parties to prioritise outdoor
play and playgrounds and working with like minded organisations is a key part
of our strategy,” says Mark.
“The mass closure of
playgrounds means that outdoor play is being denied to thousands of
children. In urban areas playgrounds are the only opportunity children
get to play outdoors. There is a national crisis going in our communities
as we continue to lose public play spaces at an alarming rate.
“We are asking for a
pledge from the next government to invest in playgrounds before it is too
late.”
