The United Nations Convention on the Rights
of the Child is the World's most adopted
Treaty, the UK has signed it.
Article 31 of the Convention states:
1. States Parties
recognize the right of the child to rest and
leisure, to engage in play and recreational
activities appropriate to the age of the
child and to participate freely in cultural
life and the arts.
2.
States Parties shall respect and promote the
right of the child to participate fully in
cultural and artistic life and shall
encourage the provision of appropriate and
equal opportunities for cultural, artistic,
recreational and leisure activity.
Fair
Play for Childrensays
Britain should incorporate theUN
Convention on the Rights of The Childinto
our national law
Why
does the
world's
most
successful
Treaty, the UN
Convention on
the Rights of
The Child,
include the Right
to Play?
Why is so much
emphasis given
by educators,
doctors,
researchers
etc to
this?
Play
is as old as
humanity, back
over 3.7
million years
ago our
distant
ancestors
walked in
Tanzania,
there is a
child walking
beside an
adult, no
doubt curious
and anxious to
play ....
It
is because for
the Child, its
Play may be
'messing
about', Fun.
seemingly
aimless,
something
every childdoeswithout
thinking
whether it has
to or not, but
it is also
just about the
most important
thing it
does. Play
is about
Learning,
about trial
and error,
about
discovery,
about
relationships,
indeed about
exploring the
world around
it. Not
for nothing
has Play been
called 'the
child's
natural
business'.
Imagine
a world where
suddenly
something
stops all our
adult activity
in its
tracks.
Who would do
the 'next
thing' and
what would
that be?
Children might
just Play?
They do
in every
conceivable
situation and
circumstance
as soon as
they are able,
they colonise,
explore,
learn,
adapt.
And
yet, we adults
have ensured
that much of
the child's
play
environment
has been
degraded and
compromised -
residential
streets
occupied by
the car,
children's
freedom to
play
restricted by
fears,
intolerance,
adult agendas
and
pressures.
Their health
is compromised
as is their
healthy
development.
The
role ofFair
Play for
Childrenis
to keep that
right and
obligation
before
society, and
to encourage
people to
fight for its
advance.
We seek your
support,
membership,
ACTION. We
are a Campaign
for The
Child's Right
to Play-
JOIN US!
The
World's
Children -
their lives,
their futures,
the World at
Play.
One of the
best sources
for news about
Play and
Childhood.
There
are few, if
any,
publications
anywhere about
children and
childhood,
that match the
breadth ofFPfC
News,
sourced from
many parts of
the world, -
major global
news sources,
research
facilities,
the UN and its
family,
community
organisations
and
more. FPfC
Newsfocuses
on all areas
of childhood,but
especially
Play because
we believe
that Play is
the path to
the fullest
development of
the child.
We are proud
of this
contribution
to knowledge
about
Childhood and
the world of
Children and
their
Play. We
update each
section
monthly, if
you have
stories etc
you wish to
submit or let
us know about,
contactfpfc1972@gmail.com
photo:
courtesy of
The Guardian
2022
Fair
Play for
Children News
is published
regularly in
four sections
including
Medical
Paediatric and
Other Research The
Fair Play for
Children
Online Libraryis
being updated
and can be
accessed by
clicking the
title or in
the right
column - it
forms a
natural
partnership
withFPfC
News Research
into Childhood,
focusing on
Children's
Play, Child
Rights, Child
Protection and
Youth
Work. It
contains
articles,
papers and
video.
Please contact
us if you know
of material we
can add
FAIRPLAYIN
ACTION
What
Fair Play is
doing, its
policies and
projects, how
you can
participate.
Click
on titles to
access.
Fair
Play's
response to
Government
Review of
Statutory
Guidance re
Youth Services
calls for
changes in the
operation of
existing law
which imposes
duties on
Local
Education
Authorities
which many are
failing to
observe
Fair
Play
50
1972-2022
On
31st July
1972, a letter
appeared in
'The Times' in
the wake of a
tragedy - two
boys aged nine
and seven
drowned
playing in a
tin bath in an
East End Canal
in London ....
for want of
somewhere safe
to play.
That tragedy
led
Bishop Trevor
Huddleston CR,
then Bishop of
Stepney, to
pen an angry
reproach in
the press, he
had known both
boys and their
families.
It was not
right, he
insisted, that
such a deficit
should have
led to their
deaths.
With the same
zeal that
marked his
defiance of
apartheid in
his native
South Africa
(from which he
had been
exiled for his
views). Father
Trevor
launched this
campaign, soon
supported by
The Duke of
Edinburgh, it
was, and is,
known as Fair
Play for
Children.
Its mission is
to achieve
that safe, but
challenging,
play space for
every child,
as now stated
in Article 31
of the United
Nations
Convention on
the Rights of
the Child.
At Fair Play,
how do we
measure
progress
towards that
aim?
Though much
has been
achieved,
overall can we
say that there
has been much
movement?
Yes, the
community and
voluntary
sector in the
UK has led the
way, against
huge odds
mainly thrown
in their way
by the
statutory
sector.
Oh, plenty of
platitudes,
'nice
thoughts', but
when we
examine the
record of
government at
all levels, it
has been a sad
tale of
non-achievement,
even of
hindrance.
To be blunt,
always the
first target
for cuts
especially by
councils,
often running
counter to
their
statutory
obligations,
which goes all
too often
unchallenged
from
society.
Fair
Play has been
and is running
a campaign on
this aspect,
to get the law
updated so
that councils
are held to
account by the
Government. YOU CAN HELP IN THIS!
MPs and
Ministers,
local
government
chiefs,
councillors
etc all KNOW
the importance
of Play, or
they pay it
enough lip
service that,
were that
translated
into action
and resource,
we'd by now
have a
Play-scape for
Heaven on
earth.
At this time,
so much has
been lost,
trashed by
cuts, our
children and
young people
have been
betrayed.
Not very
celebratory?
Well, what is
stated does
not diminish
one jot the
years of hard
work and
dedication
people and
organisations
have
contributed
and continue
to do so, Fair
Play is
dedicated to
making sure
they have
first call.
We will be
aiming to
secure
legislative
changes
through
dialogue with
the
Government.
You can help
by aiming
letters at the
your MPs to
get their
support.
Keep in touch
via this
website.
We urge you to
redouble the
fight for a Fair
Deal for
Children's
Play.
Join Fair
Play, DONATE,
campaign with
us!
Fair
Play for
Children needs
your help
NOW.
Please donate
ANY amount
OR
Make a Direct
Donation from
your
Computer:
Name:
Fair Play for
Children
Sort
Code
77-91-28
a/c no
87251160
"The good news
is, I just got reconnected with a fantastic
organization. .... Hands down, they have the most
comprehensive and up to date website I have ever
seen... Outstanding. Thank you Fair Play for
Children for being part of the good news…(even when
you are sharing bad news). I needed you today!"
empoweredbyplay.org
" Fair Play gives
excellent support around Play-work issues offering
leaflets and policy documents as well as up to date
news and information. Ideal for any organisation
offering play activities with children.
" cffc.co.uk
" A lively site with
lots of information, including downloadable guidelines
such as Organising a Playscheme and Child Protection in
Playwork. This site also includes excellent information
on adventure playgrounds. An excellent directory of play
organisations. "