Work is progressing on the development of an Executive Childcare Strategy for Northern Ireland. This survey offers an opportunity to gather a range of information about practice, the characteristics of the workforce and importantly your views on the challenges facing the sector now and in the future. The results [...]
The World Health Organisation reports that urgent action is needed to increase physical activity levels in girls and boys aged 11 to 17 years, with 80% of school-going adolescents globally not meeting current recommendations of at least one hour of physical activity per day. “The study highlights that young people [...]
Recent research from safefood has discovered that junk food is now the second-most eaten food group by children in Northern Ireland, with almost a quarter of children’s daily diets consisting of ‘junk’ foods such as crisps, biscuits, cakes, sweets and chocolate. With the research also showing that the highest [...]
The four UK Chief Medical Officers have published guidelines for physical activity for children and young people. Under 5s (not walking) Physical activity should be encouraged from birth, particularly through floor-based play and water-based activities in safe environments. All under 5s should minimise the [...]
Do playgrounds in Northern Ireland allow your child (or adult) with disabilities or other needs, to take part? The Mae Murray Foundation and PlayBoard NI are surveying parents and carers on play opportunities for children with disabilities. We are particularly interested in your views on fixed play areas i.e. play [...]
The Big Parenting Survey, produced by Parenting NI, is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, giving an insight into parenting with over 1,000 parents taking part. Responses showed that whilst experiences of parenting and family life are all different, parents share many similar concerns for their children’s [...]
Focusing on impact in your work is important as it helps define the difference you want to make and focus on how to gather evidence to funders to show you have made a difference. This is vitally important for our sector as there are ever decreasing resources and increasing [...]
In February 2013, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child adopted a new General Comment 17 on Article 31 (UNCRC). Article 31 of the Convention is a promise made by almost every government to children and young people. It says that children and young people have the [...]
