Local parent, Leander Morales, told White Horse News, mental health in children should be a priority while we collectively try to return to a sense of normality over the next year and beyond.
“It isn’t just adults making a sacrifice – whilst I think teachers have done an amazing job to keep teaching throughout the pandemic, millions of children have had much of their childhood put on hold from a social, physical-health and educational perspective,” he said.
“As a dad myself, I’m really proud with how my children have adjusted to the situation. I’m sure millions of parents feel the same. That doesn’t mean it has been an easy ride for younger people throughout the past year. Quite the opposite for millions.”
Leander suggested a major national event for children such as a festival in every town and city in the summer, depending on restrictions, which could give youngsters a boost, something to look forward to.
“If we can have an ‘eat out to help out’ for the hospitality industry – maybe we could look at doing something, primarily based on younger people living across the country, especially the millions of children living in sub-standard conditions and all those who have been cut-off from socialising over recent months,” he said.
Considering how this could be funded, Leander said, “With £120million estimated costs of the Brexit festival, maybe we could use the funds to spend on the UK’s 12 million child population in the form of hosting summer activities across the country, with additional funding from the supermarkets and other large corporations who have made healthy profits in 2020. They could possibly sponsor the campaign.
“The money could fund free fun days organised by the thousands of out-of-work event organisers, artists and sports coaches, taking place in the hundreds of venues and spaces that have been forced to close over the past year. If we’re not quite ready to relax restrictions, we could keep the funding in place, so something can happen when restrictions are lifted.”
He suggested that events could range from theatre, art, crafts and music through to gaming days, workshops, sporting activities, Forest activities and educational days out at various historic sites, all free of charge.
“Thousands of towns have festival organisations and trusts,” he explained. “The money could even be released in the form of grants to local councils based on the population of children in the area, giving people an opportunity to apply for a grant to host events.
“It would be a challenge to pull this together but I believe it could work. Even if the idea was simplified to offer every child a free trip to the theatre, theme parks, English Heritage sites with a 50%, or full discount for adults. Whatever the outcome, the money would still go back into the economy to create jobs, increase revenue for venues and give families a chance to have a free day out. “
Calls have been made nationally for the Brexit festival to be scrapped and a petition has been launched.
