the website of South Ashford Community Forum
During morning peak traffic times, one in five cars on the road are taking children school, contributing to congestion, air pollution and carbon emissions.
www.livingstreets.org.uk/what-we-do/walk-to-school
#WalktoSchool
A pilot project to use online technology to support young people with mental health needs has been launched by NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in east Kent
Some 20 young children in the area will trial Healios – an internet platform that provides therapy for 7-17 year olds with anxiety, low mood, phobias, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and other mental health conditions.
It is hoped that Healios will be successful in helping young people and their families to self-manage their mental health at a time and place that suits them and outside of traditional clinical environments. (more…)
Following a survey they carried out last year, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPSA) published the following tips for a safe Halloween!
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents 26 October 2015
www.rospa.com/media-centre/press-office/press-releases/detail/?id=1418
Walking to school allows children to get to know their neighbourhoods, get exercise, and improve their concentration levels at school.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is calling for voluntary ‘no smoking zones’ to be implemented across the UK wherever children play or learn.
In a bid to help protect children’s health and reduce the perception among young people that smoking is normal behaviour, the CIEH launched a campaign on World Environmental Health Day (26th September 2016) to extend non-smoking areas around places such as schools and play parks, or locations where young people learn or play. www.cieh.org/world-environmental-health-day.html
To support their cause the CIEH produced a selection of case studies demonstrating the benefits of introducing smoke free environments; Ashford’s smoke free play areas initiative is among those highlighted along with other local authorities including Nottingham City Council and Coventry City Council.
In April 2015 Ashford Borough Council (ABC) was invited by Kent County Council (KCC) Public Health to pilot a smoke free play area project in a bid to provide a non-smoking environment for children and their families to enjoy, help protect children from the effects of second hand smoke, and reduce the number of children who start smoking after being influenced by those who do.
ABC rolled out smoke free pilots in a number of play areas across the borough including The Stour Centre, Kilndown, Bullied Place and Newtown Green. They created fun pavement games, which are a fantastic way to keep children active, as well as engaging signage which encourages a smoke free area and gently reminds people not to light up.
Canterbury City Council were inspired by our project and in May 2016 introduced a similar scheme in St Stephens Park, with another four parks to also implement the scheme in the Barton, St Stephens and Northgate area of Canterbury.
ABC’s smoke free play area initiative not only continues to be a success, but strives to reduce the amount of cigarette litter in play areas too, making them a cleaner environment for the community. In conjunction with the council’s new litter enforcement pilot, a £75 fine will be issued to those who deliberately drop cigarettes.
KCC Director of Public Health, Andrew Scott-Clark said: “We are pleased that the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has recognised our smoke free parks projects and we would encourage other district councils, across Kent and nationally, to follow Ashford’s lead and set up voluntary no smoking zones.
“The aim is to provide a smoke free environment for children and their families to enjoy, help protect children from the effects of second hand smoke, and reduce the number of children who start smoking after being influenced by those who do. In the process it also reduces the amount of cigarette litter in play areas, making them a cleaner environment for the whole community.”
Ashford Borough Council 12 October 2016
www.ashford.gov.uk/news/ashford-supports-stubbing-out-smoking-12th-oct-1471/
On average a family can save £642 a year by swapping a car-based school run for walking or cycling
Estimate by Sustrans based on figures from the AA, DfE school statistics, DfT National Travel Survey, DEFRA & DECC GHG conversion factors and the Bike Station (June 2014)
The Children and Families Act was passed in March 2014. This means that Local authorities are required to publish and keep up to date information about services from Education, Health and Social Care which will be available for children and young people with special educational needs aged 0-25. This is the ‘Local Offer’.
The intention of the Local Offer is to improve choice, flexibility and transparency for families and to help them have more control over services by setting out the local provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or a Disability (SEND) and their families.
It will make information available in one place about the services children, young people and their families can expect from a range of local agencies. It is also an important resource for professionals in understanding the range of services and provision in the local area. (more…)
If you live too far from the school to walk the whole distance, why not Park & Stride. Park in a safe place 10 minutes walk from school and walk the rest of the way.
Encourage your friends to do this so that congestion is reduced and safety is improved in the vicinity of the school.
www.livingstreets.org.uk/media/2035/park-and-stride-print.pdf [pdf]
#WalktoSchool
Kent Fostering “Open your Heart” from Kent County Council on Vimeo.
Open your heart and you could help to transform the lives of children and young people in Kent by becoming a foster carer. Kent County Council are especially looking for carers for:
Find out about the benefits, payments and all the great support Kent County Council can provide you.
And if you think you can provide children with the stability and routine they need to flourish and develop then please contact us on 03000 420 002 or request a call back.
Half of our children are driven to school, yet the average school run for primary schools is just 1.5 miles.
Walking to school helps kids engage with their community, stay healthy and arrive alert and relaxed.
Driving less for families can mean more active, sociable lifestyles.
#WalktoSchool
