CELEBRITIES, CHILDREN'S CHARITIES AND PARENTS COME TOGETHER TO ‘SHOUT OUT FOR A SURE START’
new campaign shows that parent power is growing as new figures reveal childcare policies will impact 94% of parents’ votes
TV presenter and former Mum of the Year, Melinda Messenger, and popular children’s TV character, Peppa Pig, will today come together with charities, trade unions and parents to ‘shout out for a sure start’. At the launch of a new campaign that will give supporters of Sure Start Children’s Centres a powerful voice, politicians from each of the political parties will hear loud and clear from parents that giving children a sure start in life is one of their top priorities.
The campaign is being launched as new figures reveal that childcare policies will be a major vote winner among parents in the upcoming election1. The campaign, supported by UNISON, and run by 4Children, has been set up to celebrate and promote the value that Sure Start Children’s Centres bring to communities by supporting families, and helping mums, dads and grandparents to share the joys and challenges of raising children.
TV Presenter and former ‘Mum of the Year’, Melinda Messenger said: “Like so many other parents I know that bringing up children is one of the most joyful and rewarding experiences in life, but also at times challenging and demanding. That is why it is so important that parents know there is help and support at hand. This is what Sure Start is all about. “I am proud to be supporting the brilliant ‘shout out for a sure start’ campaign which brings parents together around the country to show just how important Sure Start is to them.”
Chief Executive of 4Children, Anne Longfield OBE, said: “All parents know how important and precious the first few years of their children’s lives are. Sure Start Children’s Centres are providing real help to families across the country but often this goes unsung. That is why we want to build a mass movement of people to ‘shout out for a sure start’. We also know that there are families who have not yet discovered their local Children’s Centre so we hope to spread the word still further and inspire more parents to find out how their Sure Start Children’s Centre could support them through all the ups and downs of family life.”
General Secretary of UNISON, Dave Prentis, said: “Children and their families, especially those from deprived backgrounds, desperately need a supportive service like Sure Start. Our members provide a vital range of services under one roof, including heath, social care, childcare and outreach services. A UNISON survey, carried out at the end of last year, saw 96 per cent of staff stating that this joined-up service made a real difference.
“Tackling child poverty must be a priority. These centres can help parents ride out of the recession and give their children a sure start on the path to a better future. We are calling for a Sure Start centre to remain in every community.”
‘Shout out for a sure start’ will be launched on Tuesday 9 February at 10.30am at the Abbey Community Centre, Great Smith Street. Melinda Messenger and a Peppa Pig costume character will be in attendance.
Further information on ‘shout out for a sure start’ will be available online from 9 February at www.shoutoutforasurestart.org.uk.
1 Figures are taken from a survey conducted by leading UK day nursery provider, Busy Bees, in December 2009. The survey was carried out among 723 working parents from a range of household incomes.
To view the full report, contact Julie.Evans@4Children.org.uk. For further information about Busy Bees visit http://www.busybees.com/. Shout out for a sure start is non-party political campaign. There are currently more than 3,000 Sure Start Children’s Centres across England with more in Scotland and Wales. They provide families with young children with crucial services, support and information. Click here for more information about Sure Start Children’s Centres.
Shout out for a Sure Start believes that
• A sure start sets you up for life
• Every child deserves a Sure Star
• Investment in children is an investment in our future
Visitors to www.shoutoutforasurestart.org.uk can
:• Sign a supporters pledge to shout out for a sure star
• Share and debate their Sure Start experiences on a forum
• Sign up to a Facebook supporters group
• Share any concerns they may have about the future of their local Sure Start children’s centre
• Write to their local MP to ask them to sign up to an Early Day Motion
• Find out where to go for more information about their local Sure Start centre
4Children
4Children is the national children’s charity which develops, influences and shapes national policy on all aspects of children, young people and families lives and works with a wide range of partners to deliver real support for children and families in their community. 4Children has spearheaded a joined up, integrated approach to children’s services which puts the needs of the most vulnerable families at the centre. It is the one of the largest not for profit Children’s Centre provider in the country and also runs and supports out of school programmes and the new next generation ‘myplace’ youth hubs. For more information see: www.4Children.org.uk
4Children launched The Family Commission in April 2009. The 18 month inquiry into families in the UK, chaired by Esther Rantzen CBE, includes one of the largest consultations with families ever undertaken. For more information visit www.theFamilyCommission.org.uk
UNISON
UNISON is the UK’s largest public sector union, with 1.4 million members.
The union covers around 20,000 Sure Start Centre members and has been campaigning for fair pay and conditions for staff.
Peppa PigPre-school phenomena Peppa Pig is created by BAFTA award-winning studio Astley Baker Davies and co-owned and distributed by E1 Entertainment. It is currently one of the UK’s biggest pre-school properties according to NPD data and was awarded Best Pre-School Licensed Property at the 2009 Licensing Awards. The show has been sold to 180 countries worldwide including France, Germany and Japan and there are currently 55 UK licensees on board. Still achieving consistently high ratings on Five’s Milkshake block and Nick Jr, Peppa Pig book sales in the UK are over 1.8 million and DVD sales are in excess of 2 million. Tickets have been selling fast for Peppa Pig’s Party, the first live stage-show production from the franchise, which is touring throughout 2010. Recently Character Options’ Peppa Pig toy range collected the award for Best Pre-School License Range at this year’s Toy Industry Awards.
4Children is supporting NCB's Firm Foundations Campaign which is seeking to promote the need for investment and quality in early childhood education and childcare services www.firmfoundationscampaign.org.uk. As part of the campaign, the Earl of Listowel is hosting a parliamentary seminar on early years’ investment today (9th Feb) at the House of Lords. For more information contact Patricia Durr: padurr@ncb.org.uk.
