Child in the City: News round-up 30/10/2020
Scotland: Families experiencing destitution, isolation and mental health struggles
A study by Together, the Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights, compares the findings of interviews with family support services held in 2013 and findings from interviews with the same services in 2019. The results highlight a rise in families experiencing destitution even before the coronavirus pandemic.
Destitution is when a person has lacked two or more of six essentials over the past month because they cannot afford them. Essentials include shelter, food, heating, lighting, clothing and footwear and basic toiletries.
Read the full report here.
__________________________________________
Detroit, USA: Funding for families’ lead exposure study
Wayne State University’s Centre for Urban Studies has been handed a $700,000 grant to test cost-effective means of protecting families from lead exposure through improved temporary emergency and new permanent relocations.
The three-year award, from the US Dept of Housing and Urban Development will test two models that may prove effective in reducing blood lead levels in children, while also saving money.
Click here for more information.
__________________________________________
The Netherlands: ‘More than half of secondary schools have had a coronavirus case’
There have been coronavirus infections at 342 of the 648 secondary schools in the Netherlands, according to new research, reports DutchNews.nl
It reports on a joint study by TV news programme Nieuwsuur and BD Dataplan, a coronavirus data technology tracking firm, which says that of the 342 schools, 44 had more than 10 cases, and seven schools have so far had to close for a period.
Click here for the full DutchNews.nl article
__________________________________________
England: ‘Play sector unites to keep playgrounds open’
The UK’s leading bodies concerned with children’s play have joined together in a concerted effort to ensure that community play areas remain open as Covid restrictions tighten around the country.
Mark Hardy, Chair of the Association of Play Industries (API), Mark Hardy, was a guest speaker at Play England’s recent seminar, Let the children play: the importance of playgrounds. “It’s hard to overstate the vital role that playgrounds play in children’s physical and mental health,” says Mark.
Click here for more information on the API’s current position.
