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Tom’s Story

Tom (3) has a rare genetic condition called MORC-2,. The condition has only been identified in the last two years and therefore there is very little information on it. It is understood that Tom canmake progress in his physical development, however it is slow. Tom’smum, Aoife, was interviewed on Tom’s’ behalf.

What was the project aim and what need are Access Sport addressing?

The sessions allow d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent children to participate in swimming lessons that are adapted to their needs and obtain the equipment that makes sessions more accessible to them. There is a lack of inclusive swim sessions due to session costs and limited training for swim instructors to be able to teach disability inclusive swim sessions.

What was the project? Think who, what, where, when how?

Zambezi swim school is an existing swim school in the Bexleyheath area. Zambezi was looking to start a disability inclusive swim session, however, did not have the funding to host the sessions or the expertise to upskill teachers and make the sessions accessible.

The inclusive swim sessions have now completed a 10-week block and has proved to be a success with the engaging participants. When speaking to Aiofe, Toms mum, she stated that Tom is a lot stronger since the beginning of the sessions, due to noticing a difference in his head control. This has been acknowledged when Tom swims on his stomach, he is able to lift his head and shoulders for a lot longer than he could at the first session, as well as feeling more comfortable in that position than he did at the start of the sessions.

What did Access Sport do to address this need/fill the gap/and address the issue in this area/sport?

For coaches, pool time, insurance and equipment it costs £160 per week, which only supplies 3 x 30-minute sessions. Zambezi acquired Access Sport and Children’s Alliance support with the cost of the sessions, as well as the aid to upskill existing swim coaches with existing disability inclusion training that Access Sport provide.

Main Outcome Focus

What were the positive changes to the coach?

The swim coach believed being part of an inclusive swim session would be a new challenge. From being a swim teacher for years, involvement in disability inclusive swim sessions was not part of her previous programmes. It is noticed by the swim coach, Jo, that the area where the sessions take place was lacking inclusive activity and expressed that it feels humbling to be a part of something where everyone can be included, as well as watch parents and participants engage in something together.

After completing a 10-week block ofinclusive swim sessions, coach Jo noticed the confidence that had built up in participant Tom. This was acknowledged from seeing the increase in his enjoyment and calm persona when entering the water now, compared to the first session. Due to Tom’s rare condition, it makes adapting a swim session to tailor his needs an extra challenge. By Access Sport providing disability inclusive online trainings, this has allowed coach Joe to further understand the requirements of physical disabilities and how to adapt
them within swimming.

Yesterday, we launched our new report, The Power of Play: Building a Creative Britain, at the Young V&A Museum before handing it in to policy makers at 10 Downing Street. This report focuses on the importance of free play in childhood to encourage imagination and creativity into adulthood to provide a lifelong, multi-generational and community-enhancing opportunity for all.

But we don’t just want to talk about it, we want to change it.

Fundamentally, this report outlines 10 key recommendations for policy makers such as; recognising play as a fundamental right, integrating play into educational policies, and investing in provision to strengthen the play sector at both national and local levels.

We’re so proud of this report, putting the power of play at the heart of children’s policy making to steward the next generation of creative thinkers and build a creative Britain.

Listen to the MyBaby2Bump podcast

Children’s Alliance

UK Government’s “outdated” public health messages are leaving new parents in the dark about what to expect after birth
Some parents still smoking or drinking at the start of pregnancy, report by Children’s Alliance warns
Frontline medical staff aren’t passing on key public health messages about pregnancy, authors reveal

Expectant mothers and fathers are being failed by the UK Government’s “outdated” public health plans leaving them unprepared for parenthood, a new report has warned.

The review by Children’s Alliance, with the University of Southampton, found that women and men are unaware of how poor personal health can impact their babies’ early development – with many overweight and still smoking or drinking at the start of pregnancy.

Findings also show that public health messages about preparing for pregnancy and protecting infants before birth are often overlooked by frontline professionals and not taught by the national school curriculum.

The report’s authors are now calling for preconception care in the UK – which supports women prior to pregnancy and parenthood – to be included at all stages of the Government’s health strategy.

Lead author Helen Clark from Children’s Alliance said fixing preconception care would leave a worthy legacy for whichever political party puts it in their election manifesto.

She added: “Studies have shown us that parents who practice good health prior to and in pregnancy give their children the best start to life and are more likely to be healthier growing up. Ill health costs money and, as we saw recently from the Office for National Statistics, two-and-a-half-million people are not working due to health problems.

“Throwing money at outdated public health policies won’t work. Improving preconception care is the smart 21st-century approach the NHS should take – indeed a ‘revolution’ that will cut future waiting lists and won’t break the bank either.”

The new Preconception Care Strategy was jointly created by Children’s Alliance together with health professionals and academics at several UK universities, including Southampton, to improve life chances for children.

Data highlighted in the study revealed mass inequalities among wealthy and disadvantaged families alike – with 24 per cent of stillbirths attributable to socioeconomic deprivation.

As many as nine out of 10 women in England enter pregnancy with at least one indicator that risks the health of the child, while only 27 per cent of mothers take folic acid before conceiving. Other results showed:

Women from Black ethnic background in England are one-and-a-half-times more likely to enter pregnancy with obesity compared with white women,
People from low-income families are three-times more likely to smoke at the time of conception,
Women living in deprived areas are nearly two times more likely to have a pre-existing mental health condition.

University of Southampton Professor Keith Godfrey, from the National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, was a lead contributor to the report and said: “A child’s first 1,000 days is integral to their lifelong physical and mental health, development and resilience.

“Preparation for parenthood is crucial for levelling up opportunities for children and can help tackle disparities in their health. However, preconception care remains undervalued in the UK and the Government’s health policies have either failed to help people of reproductive age or are too late for women entering maternity care.”

The report’s authors have published a five-point action plan for government and health officials to improve the health of expectant parents.

CONTACT: University of Southampton media manager James Haigh: j.haigh@soton.ac.uk or (+44) 7584 368684

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Preconception Care Strategy can be read in full at com/preconception-report.
Five-point action plan: The authors have published an action plan for government officials to improve the health of expectant parents – it includes:

Make preconception care services available to everyone in the UK – to tackle spiralling inequality.
Incentivise GPs, maternity services and family hubs to normalise preconception care – to improve pregnancy and post-natal care.
Add preconception care to the curriculum to teach pupils the importance of healthy pregnancies.
Move preconception healthcare into related health policies that address obesity and weight management, alcohol and smoking.
Encourage large organisations – including the NHS – to give staff access to medical or health and wellbeing professionals before conception.

The University of Southampton drives original thinking, turns knowledge into action and impact, and creates solutions to the world’s challenges. We are among the top 100 institutions globally (QS World University Rankings 2023). Our academics are leaders in their fields, forging links with high-profile international businesses and organisations, and inspiring a 22,000-strong community of exceptional students, from over 135 countries worldwide. Through high-quality education, we help students on a journey of discovery to realise their potential and join a global network of 200,000 alumni. southampton.ac.uk

Children’s Alliance, the Water Babies foundation, in partnership with the University of Worcester, hosted our 2023 conference on Monday 26th June 2023.

Are you concerned about your child’s future? Would you like to shape a collective voice to support a pathway from healthy child to healthy adult? The Children’s Alliance is dedicated to a society that prioritises children and young people and the conference aims to explore how supporting the health and welfare of children in the early stages will result in a more productive future society.

Our conference aims to shape a collective voice from child-centric concerns, business and education that is capable of articulating compelling ways in which to support a pathway from healthy childhood development to wellness throughout the life course, so that the socioeconomic ambitions of our wider society are fully realised.

Omar Sharif

CEO and Founder of Omar Inspires: Omar Sharif is the CEO and Founder of Omar Inspires. He is one of the UK’s youngest, most sought-after speakers. Since winning the Pride of Britain award, Omar has been hand-picked to consult for HM King Charles III. He has delivered keynotes both nationally and internationally to share his messages of adversity and breakthrough.

Lenny Woodard

Lenny Woodard is one of over 200 ex-rugby players publicising the fact that the governing bodies of rugby and other sports, have failed to protect past and present sporting professionals from brain injuries. Lenny, a former ‘dual-code’ professional was diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Mick Donovan

Mick as the University of Worcester Pro Vice Chancellor: Partnerships, has an oversight of the arrangements for partnership management. He leads on the development and delivery of University transformative educational partnerships.

Dr Scott Andrews

Scott is Head of Worcester Business School and a Principal Lecturer in Leadership and Business. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Chartered Manager. In 2022, he was awarded the Chartered Management Institute’s ‘Champion of the Year.’

Sallyann Sutton

Sallyann has 25 year’s experience of working with children, young people and families. She holds an MSC in Child and Family Mental Health, a PGD in Public Mental Health.

Dr Alison Murray

Dr Alison Murray began her teaching career in the UK; then became a teacher educator in Mexico before taking up posts as a physical educator across all levels in the US.

Dr Amanda Norman

Dr Amanda Norman is a Senior Lecturer in Education (Early Years) at the University of Winchester. She is an author of books about the earliest years and has published on infant care pedagogies inacademic peer reviewed and professional practice articles.

Dr Kristy Howells

Kirsty is the current secretary for the Early Childhood Education, Special Interest Research Group within the International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP).

Jean Barlow

Jean Barlow is a highly qualified innovative and experienced teacher, author and educational consultant who has long promoted a nurturing approach to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children

Dr Estelle Mackay

Dr Estelle Mackay, a Public Health Nutritionist and Churchill Fellow has a long term interest in child obesity. Focusing on school meal provision, food inequalities and healthier food environments.

Emma Bayou

Emma Bayou is the Founder & CEO of Miindfulness CIC, an organisation committed to children & young people’s mental health.

Viki Veale

Viki Veale is a senior lecturer in Early Years and Primary Education at St Mary’s University in Twickenham. She is a qualified teacher who has worked extensively with young children and their families.

Dr Pamela Murray

Dr Pamela Murray excels in the enhancement of student and client performance using a combination of experiential, educational and psychological development methodologies.

The Family and Community Report identifies the need for a change in approach so that children and young people are at the forefront of policy. This is a great opportunity for a new government to make this a priority. Check out our press release or read the report here.