I wanted to share some reflections from a trip I made to North Tyneside in July, visiting some of our UK work in Wallsend.
Save the Children are delighted to be supporting Summer of Play for a second year.
A recent Save the Children survey found that in the North East, much like the rest of the country, rates of children playing outside are declining. The #SummerOfPlay campaign wants to change that, recognising that play is one way of ensuring children from all backgrounds can have good experiences that support their physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
The Wallsend Children’s Community, in partnership with 13 schools in the area, is running programmes throughout the summer to give children and young people opportunities to play and socialise – at no extra cost to parents. I was lucky enough to visit some of the schools taking part in the programme and meet with some of the children, who were eager to tell us what they’d been up to that day. It was great to see children laughing, playing and just being children – I was even asked by one girl if I’d like to have a drawing on my face, but we compromised and agreed it would be much better on my hand – not least because I was heading to an interview with The Journal straight after.
Of course, the visit was set in the backdrop of rising living costs.
The day I arrived it was announced that energy prices could rise to £4,000 next year – pushing half of all those living in Britain into fuel poverty. The North East already has the highest rates of child poverty in the UK and these hikes in energy bills will be absolutely devastating to those who are already struggling. The 7 week long summer holidays (one week longer than normal in many areas) are an added strain to families. Communities, like the one in Wallsend, are a lifeline to families, but there are still many children around the UK who don’t have access to activities like the ones we saw last week. The government must do more by investing in social security – the additional £1,200 Cost of Living support package will not be enough to cover the price rises. If you want to hear more about this, you can listen back to an interview I did with BBC Radio Newcastle – I’m on at 03:41:30.
We shouldn’t have this level of child poverty in the UK, one of the richest countries in the world.
A lot of the families we met with are in work, but they’re not earning enough to actually pay for the basics. By the time you’ve paid your rent, your council tax and energy bills, there is very little left for food – never mind childcare costs added to this. Families are struggling and the North East now has higher levels of poverty than London, even taking account of housing costs. You’ve got strong communities here and people want to stay in this area with their families, but there’s very little opportunity for some.
I was also given a snapshot into children’s experiences during the pandemic.
Through the Story of Place exhibition at Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum, which focuses on children’s stories throughout the pandemic. Some of the experiences shared by the students were incredibly difficult – they missed their school friends, teachers and families. Some of the students had lost family members through this time. But above all else, what shone through in their art was their incredible resilience and adaptability throughout this truly unprecedented time. Coming together, the children and their families were able to share their experiences, to get creative and to have fun. It was another reminder of the hope that children can offer us all. The exhibition is supported by Save the Children and BVLGARI and if you are in the area, I’d recommend you stop in for a visit before the exhibition comes to a close in September.
You can learn more about our UK work here. Massive thank you to our team and partners in the North East. Thank you also to the families I met with while in Wallsend, for sharing your experiences with me.
