Latest news with #RaisingTheNation
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I keep getting an itchy rash which is affecting my sleep – I'm desperate for help
DO you remember playing in the streets as a child? More than half of parents say their own kids are playing outside less than they did. It's easy to lay the blame at them having too much screen time – whether it's social media apps on their phones, gaming, or watching TV. But while these are factors, experts believe there are other factors keeping them inside. The Raising The Nation Play Commission inquiry warns children also have fewer opportunities to play, including fewer safe places like parks. It called for the ban of 'No Ball Game' signs, a ban on phones in schools and a Government 'minister for play', among other things. As a mother myself, it can be scary to see the difference in the world in which children grow up now. It's also our responsibility as parents to do what we can to create time and space for our kids to play like we used to. With record high rates of obesity and mental health issues it has never been more important. Here's a selection of what readers have asked me this week . . . ITCH THAT WON'T STOP Q) LAST September, both my shins started to itch really badly. I went to my GP who said it could be related to varicose veins and gave me cream. After a couple of months, the itch disappeared. In February of this year, parts of my trunk broke out and were extremely itchy. I went back to the GP and I was given three different types of cream. None of the creams seemed to make any difference. I had my blood checked for liver and kidney issues, and the results came back clear. I have used a high-dose antihistamine, over-the-counter creams and an oatmeal-based body wash. They all tend to work for a couple of days before the rash comes back. The itch is now on my hand, going up my arms and spreading on my neck. This is making me miserable and affecting my sleep. All I want to do is scratch. Any help will be appreciated. I am 65 and take propranolol for a hand tremor. A) I haven't seen any images but your description sounds very much like eczema. Varicose veins can make it more likely to get eczema on the legs. We actually call this varicose eczema. Varicose veins don't tend to work as well, and this means that blood can pool in the lower legs. The increased pressure in these veins can cause fluid to leak into the surrounding tissue. It's thought that varicose eczema may develop as a result of the immune system reacting to this fluid. But to then go on and have these other outbreaks of what I'm assuming is eczema, points towards something else going on. I'm wondering when it was that you started taking propranolol? Propranolol, which is a beta-blocker, can help with hand tremors, but it can sometimes cause skin reactions, including eczema-like eruptions in the process. It can also trigger or worsen existing eczema in some individuals. Please do let me know if the skin issues tie in with starting propranolol. Q) DEAR Zoe, firstly, I'd like to say that I love your column in The Sun and find your advice very helpful and given without judgement. I'm a 58-year-old male, and in the last six months or so, I've had a lot of bleeding while going to the toilet. 3 It's almost every time. I've had haemorrhoids for years, but it's not been an issue. I fear I am anaemic because the last time I went to donate blood, they wouldn't take any as my count was too low. I should be the opposite because I have haemochromatosis. Will this go away on its own? A) Thank you for your kind words. To protect your health, your haemoglobin (Hb) level must be at least 135 g/L for men and 125 g/L for women prior to blood donation. As you say, you'd expect your normal Hb to be slightly on the high side to begin with, because haemochromatosis is when iron levels slowly build up over the years. So your low levels would suggest that you are losing a significant amount of blood from the haemorrhoids. I'd advise seeing your GP to be checked for anaemia and, depending on their estimation of how much blood you are losing from the haemorrhoids (photos of the toilet bowl are helpful), they may want to consider if there could be bleeding from higher up the gastrointestinal tract. Have you noticed blood mixed with the stool, or black, tarry stools? This could indicate digested blood from the stomach, for example. If your GP is satisfied that the piles are the likely cause, then I'd expect they will refer you to a specialist. There are several ways specialists can treat troublesome piles, including placing rubber bands around the base of the haemorrhoid to cut off blood supply, which causes it to fall off within a week, sclerotherapy injections or infrared coagulation. Sometimes, surgery is deemed the best option. Anaemia is managed with iron supplementation and, if severe, may require blood transfusion. If you haven't already, do look at the NHS website for diet and lifestyle advice for piles. How can I lower blood pressure Q) CAN I have your advice on lowering blood pressure? I want to avoid taking tablets if I can, as I have reached the age of 59 without any tablets so far. 3 I keep healthy, exercise regularly, don't smoke, hardly drink, eat healthy food, avoid salt etc. But my blood pressure floats around 140/90, which is considered normal by some and high by others, but I want it to be lower. I have even started eating bananas and I hate bananas. Any advice? A) IT'S great that you're maintaining such a healthy lifestyle. It can feel unfair that despite this, as we age, issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can still arise. For high BP, this is often due to blood vessels becoming less elastic, making it harder for blood to flow, which increases pressure. To some degree, we can reduce the rate at which this artery stiffening occurs. Exercise, especially aerobic exercise, can improve artery flexibility. When we exercise, our BP goes up while the heart is working harder, which temporarily gives the arteries a little stretch and keeps them supple over time. It's similar to how stretching the body keeps it flexible. Smoking and excess alcohol can make the arteries stiffer. Since you're already healthy, my advice is to gradually increase the intensity of your exercise regime. This would involve things like running faster or doing more heavy lifting. You could also consider joining a group class for extra motivation. Your current blood pressure doesn't require medication and you can afford to wait and try to optimise your lifestyle in the meantime. But if it rises in the future, medication may be necessary to protect you against the potential risks of untreated high BP.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Call to ban every 'no ball games' signs in the UK
Campaigners are demanding the removal of barriers to children's play, arguing for the eradication of "no ball games" signs scattered across streets and estates, as well as curtailing smartphone use during the day and improving access to safe play areas. Have your say! Is it time for the ever-present "no ball games" sign to get binned? Are there enough places in your neighbourhood for kids to gather and play safely? Comment below, and join in on the conversation. The Raising the Nation Play Commission has devoted a year to exploring how beneficial play is for youngsters, and how to encourage more physical activities among a generation increasingly fixated on smartphones and digital screens. Their findings indicate outdoor play has halved over one generation. READ MORE: DWP Household Support Fund scrapped and replaced as Labour issues major update READ MORE: 'I'm planning to end my life after my daughter finishes her exams' According to the commission's report, various obstacles have nudged children towards an indoor, inactive lifestyle – including UK streets becoming overrun with vehicles, rendering it risky for children to venture out solo. The report notes an "increasing hostility" towards young people in communal areas, manifested in the pervasive "no ball games" placards, apprehensions regarding crime in public spheres, and a widespread unwelcomeness of youth in urban centres. It also calls attention to parks and play spaces often falling at the bottom of a financially prudent council's priority list, which can lead them into states of neglect or even closure. Key Stage 1 pupils, aged between 5 and 7, are losing out on precious playtime, with a staggering 23 minutes less break time than kids had three decades ago. Schools are under pressure to chase academic achievements, squeezing the school day and cutting back on outdoor breaks. The Raising the Nation Play Commission has highlighted the significant advantages of play for children, including tackling obesity and encouraging physical activity, which could ease future burdens on health services. A call has been made for a "National Play Strategy" in England, supported by a hefty £125 million investment. Councils would be tasked with ensuring their areas have adequate play spaces and equipment. The commission also urges for safer streets, free from heavy traffic and crime, to allow children and their families to enjoy the outdoors without fear. It suggests that teacher training should include the importance of play, while parents should receive guidance and support. The report advocates for children's rights to be legally recognised and for family input on play facilities in new housing developments. Have your say! Is it time for the ever-present "no ball games" sign to get binned? Are there enough places in your neighbourhood for kids to gather and play safely? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.
The Independent
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Government urged to ban ‘no ball games' signs to beat childhood smartphone addiction
The Government is being urged to create child-friendly playful neighbourhoods and disrupt the "addictive grip" of smartphones on children's lives. Closures of playgrounds, busier roads, shortened school break times and the dominance of screentime have restricted children's opportunities to play, a report has suggested. Urgent action is needed to create more opportunities for children to play outdoors and away from digital devices and social media, according to a report by the Raising the Nation Play Commission inquiry. It warned: "Too many of our children are spending their most precious years sedentary, doomscrolling on their phones and often alone, while their health and wellbeing deteriorates." The commission was chaired by Paul Lindley, founder of organic baby food manufacturer Ella's Kitchen, in partnership with the Centre for Young Lives think tank, which was co-founded by the former children's commissioner for England Baroness Anne Longfield. It has called on the Government to establish a National Play Strategy for England, backed by an annual £125 million investment and led by a "minister for play". The strategy should include a commitment to a "step-change" in the quantity and quality of children's use of digital devices through stronger regulation, public engagement and information, and addressing addictive "push" factors that have driven children online, the report added. The inquiry has called on the Government to raise the digital age of consent to 16 and introduce a ban on smartphones in schools during the school day. It added that it should become easier for parents to organise "safe play" in their streets, and there should be a national ban on "No Ball Games" signs. A poll of 2,000 parents in England, commissioned by the inquiry, suggested that 55% of parents believe their youngest child plays outside less than they did when they were children. Around three in four (76%) parents agree that people are generally less accepting of children playing outside on the street than when they were a child, according to the poll. The Raising the Nation Play Commission brought together 19 expert commissioners to conduct a year-long inquiry into how play can be restored to every childhood in England. Lady Longfield, executive chairwoman of the Centre for Young Lives, said: "Too many of our children are spending their most precious years sedentary, doomscrolling on their phones and often alone, while their health and wellbeing deteriorates. "It is no coincidence that the least happy generation, the generation with the highest rates of obesity and rising ill health, is the generation that plays less and less. "As we have heard from a swathe of experts and professionals working with children over the last year, play is being squeezed out of childhoods, with drastic implications for children, our economy and public services. "With so much at stake children really have everything to play for: their health, wellbeing, happiness, learning, and development depends on our ability to reignite the role of play. "This report provides a blueprint for how we can get children playing again and also tackle the scourge of addictive doomscrolling, so we can prevent future generations from becoming glued to screens." Technology Secretary Pete Kyle has indicated he is considering an "app cap" for children. On Sunday, the minister signalled he was looking at measures to restrict the amount of time children spend on their phones, including through a possible 10pm curfew. Mr Lindley, chairman of the Raising the Nation Play Commission, said: "Creating truly playful communities is not just about better street design, traffic management, and reduced crime, but also about a reversal of the growing culture of intolerance towards children playing. "This will also encourage more parents to have confidence they can let their children play out more freely, in the knowledge that their children will be both having a great time and are also safe. "We need to give our children back the time, space, opportunity, freedom - and the right - to play again." A Government spokesperson said: "We recognise the vital importance of play and access to nature as part of children's development and wellbeing as we strive to create the healthiest and happiest generation of children ever. "Through our Plan for Change, we are setting young people up to achieve and thrive - both inside and outside the classroom. "We have given hundreds of thousands of children the tools to turn their grey school spaces green as part of our National Education Nature Park, we are opening up grassroots sports to all with £100 million investment in facilities and we are working with experts to develop a framework to improve access to activities outside of school. "Schools already have the power to completely ban phones in the classroom and the overwhelming majority - 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools - limit or restrict use.
Sky News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Call for 'No Ball Games' signs to be scrapped as play being 'squeezed out of childhoods'
The government is being urged to ban "No Ball Game" signs and tackle the "addictive grip" of smartphones following a report into childhood play. The report by the Raising the Nation Play Commission inquiry says urgent action is needed to create more opportunities for children to play outdoors and away from digital devices. It is calling for curbs on smartphone use to get children playing again and "tackle the scourge of addictive doomscrolling". Its recommendations include: • Child-friendly, playful neighbourhoods; • A national ban on "No Ball Games" signs; • A school ban on smartphones during the school day; • Raising the age of digital consent from 13 to 16, restricting children from opening online accounts; • Tougher regulations to tackle the "addictive grip of smartphones and social media". Closures of playgrounds, busier roads, shortened school break times and the dominance of screen time have restricted children's opportunities to play, according to the report. The commission is urging the government to establish a National Play Strategy for England, backed by an annual £125m investment and led by a "minister for play". It brought together 19 expert commissioners to conduct a year-long inquiry into how play can be restored to every childhood in England. Lady Longfield, executive chairwoman of the Centre for Young Lives, said: "Too many of our children are spending their most precious years sedentary, doomscrolling on their phones and often alone, while their health and wellbeing deteriorates. "Play is being squeezed out of childhoods, with drastic implications for children, our economy and public services." A poll of 2,000 parents in England, commissioned by the inquiry, suggested that 55% of parents believe their youngest child plays outside less than they did when they were children. Around three in four parents (76%) agreed that people are generally less accepting of children playing outside on the street than when they were children. The commission was chaired by Paul Lindley, founder of organic baby food manufacturer Ella's Kitchen, in partnership with the Centre for Young Lives think tank, which was co-founded by the former children's commissioner for England, Baroness Anne Longfield. Mr Lindley said: "Creating truly playful communities is not just about better street design, traffic management, and reduced crime, but also about a reversal of the growing culture of intolerance towards children playing. "This will also encourage more parents to have confidence they can let their children play out more freely, in the knowledge that their children will be both having a great time and are also safe. Measures to ban smartphones in schools were dropped by Labour MP Josh MacAlister. His backbench bill to raise the age of digital consent from 13 to 16 was also watered down. On Sunday, Technology Secretary Pete Kyle suggested he was looking at "app cap", restricting the amount of time children spend on their phones, including through a possible 10pm curfew. A government spokesperson said: "Through our Plan for Change, we are setting young people up to achieve and thrive - both inside and outside the classroom. "We have given hundreds of thousands of children the tools to turn their grey school spaces green as part of our National Education Nature Park, we are opening up grassroots sports to all with £100m investment in facilities and we are working with experts to develop a framework to improve access to activities outside of school. "Schools already have the power to completely ban phones in the classroom and the overwhelming majority - 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools - limit or restrict use. "And from July, new rules under the Online Safety Act will require social media platforms to protect children in the UK from seeing harmful content online."
The Independent
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Government urged to disrupt ‘addictive grip' of smartphones on children's lives
The Government is being urged to create child-friendly playful neighbourhoods and disrupt the 'addictive grip' of smartphones on children's lives. Closures of playgrounds, busier roads, shortened school break times and the dominance of screentime have restricted children's opportunities to play, a report has suggested. Urgent action is needed to create more opportunities for children to play outdoors and away from digital devices and social media, according to a report by the Raising the Nation Play Commission inquiry. It warned: 'Too many of our children are spending their most precious years sedentary, doomscrolling on their phones and often alone, while their health and wellbeing deteriorates.' The commission was chaired by Paul Lindley, founder of organic baby food manufacturer Ella's Kitchen, in partnership with the Centre for Young Lives think tank, which was co-founded by the former children's commissioner for England Baroness Anne Longfield. It has called on the Government to establish a National Play Strategy for England, backed by an annual £125 million investment and led by a 'minister for play'. The strategy should include a commitment to a 'step-change' in the quantity and quality of children's use of digital devices through stronger regulation, public engagement and information, and addressing addictive 'push' factors that have driven children online, the report added. The inquiry has called on the Government to raise the digital age of consent to 16 and introduce a ban on smartphones in schools during the school day. It added that it should become easier for parents to organise 'safe play' in their streets, and there should be a national ban on 'No Ball Games' signs. A poll of 2,000 parents in England, commissioned by the inquiry, suggested that 55% of parents believe their youngest child plays outside less than they did when they were children. Around three in four (76%) parents agree that people are generally less accepting of children playing outside on the street than when they were a child, according to the poll. The Raising the Nation Play Commission brought together 19 expert commissioners to conduct a year-long inquiry into how play can be restored to every childhood in England. Lady Longfield, executive chairwoman of the Centre for Young Lives, said: 'Too many of our children are spending their most precious years sedentary, doomscrolling on their phones and often alone, while their health and wellbeing deteriorates. 'It is no coincidence that the least happy generation, the generation with the highest rates of obesity and rising ill health, is the generation that plays less and less. 'As we have heard from a swathe of experts and professionals working with children over the last year, play is being squeezed out of childhoods, with drastic implications for children, our economy and public services. 'With so much at stake children really have everything to play for: their health, wellbeing, happiness, learning, and development depends on our ability to reignite the role of play. 'This report provides a blueprint for how we can get children playing again and also tackle the scourge of addictive doomscrolling, so we can prevent future generations from becoming glued to screens.' Technology Secretary Pete Kyle has indicated he is considering an 'app cap' for children. On Sunday, the minister signalled he was looking at measures to restrict the amount of time children spend on their phones, including through a possible 10pm curfew. Mr Lindley, chairman of the Raising the Nation Play Commission, said: 'Creating truly playful communities is not just about better street design, traffic management, and reduced crime, but also about a reversal of the growing culture of intolerance towards children playing. 'This will also encourage more parents to have confidence they can let their children play out more freely, in the knowledge that their children will be both having a great time and are also safe. 'We need to give our children back the time, space, opportunity, freedom – and the right – to play again.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We recognise the vital importance of play and access to nature as part of children's development and wellbeing as we strive to create the healthiest and happiest generation of children ever. 'Through our Plan for Change, we are setting young people up to achieve and thrive – both inside and outside the classroom. 'We have given hundreds of thousands of children the tools to turn their grey school spaces green as part of our National Education Nature Park, we are opening up grassroots sports to all with £100 million investment in facilities and we are working with experts to develop a framework to improve access to activities outside of school. 'Schools already have the power to completely ban phones in the classroom and the overwhelming majority – 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools – limit or restrict use. 'And from July, new rules under the Online Safety Act will require social media platforms to protect children in the UK from seeing harmful content online.'
