Election 2019: ask your candidates to support PlayMustStay to win your vote
In the coming weeks leading up to 12 December, the election candidates in your area will be doing everything they can to win your vote. Despite Brexit dominating the political agenda, this is a rare opportunity to exploit your power as a voter and highlight what’s important to you, your children and your community. If, like me, you believe that children are facing a serious crisis, with obesity and spiralling rates of mental ill-health, growing digital dependence and the demise of outdoor play – then this election represents your chance to make a difference. The shocking decline in public outdoor playgrounds is happening all around us and so it’s at a local level that we can have the greatest impact. Unless we halt the neglect and closure of hundreds of playgrounds across the UK, children will continue to rely on screens to fill their leisure time, fuelling the crisis yet further. By reinstating the right kind of public outdoor play provision we can turn the tide. Safe, attractive, stimulating and accessible playgrounds are key to children’s physical and mental health; the vast majority of children live in urban areas and without abundant playgrounds they are being driven indoors to spend hours alone, sedentary and on screens. So here’s what you can do. Find out who your local candidates are here: https://whocanivotefor.co.uk Simply enter your postcode and click ‘Find your candidates’. You should then be able to find your local candidates’ contact details on the websites of their political parties or contact them via social media. You can then ask them the following questions:- Are they aware of the decline in playgrounds and have they seen the Play Must Stay campaign?
- What is local status of playgrounds? Is there notable decline and/or neglect?
- Will they pledge to publicly support the Play Must Stay campaign both locally and nationally?
- Will they, if elected, pledge to sign the Early Day Motion on Children’s Playgrounds?