School calls for expansion of Traffic Calming Schemes

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has today called for an expansion of traffic calming schemes, after the largest review to date of the evidence on their effectiveness concluded that they ‘may have the potential to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries’.

Traffic calming is becoming a high profile media issue with opinions running high, both for and against. It will be one of the issues highlighted in the forthcoming launch of the manifesto of the Safer Streets Coalition. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is the base for the Injuries Group of the International Cochrane Collaboration. The Group which carried out the review seeks to assemble all available information from research that has been conducted on particular methods of treating or preventing injury. The data is collected, analysed and presented in the form of systematic reviews.

‘Traffic calming interventions need to be properly evaluated using well-designed controlled studies, so that we can more accurately estimate their effectiveness’, comments Professor Ian Roberts, one of the review team. ‘Whenever reliable studies have been done, traffic calming has been shown to make roads safer. We do need more research but, in my view, we already know enough to justify an expansion in the number of traffic calming schemes. Contrary to what some people have claimed, there is no evidence that traffic calming increases the risks’.

The team expressed concern that so far no reliable research on the topic has been conducted in developing countries, where the death rate from injuries on the road is increasing most rapidly.

Young Offenders In 'Poacher Turned Gamekeeper' Initiative

Young offenders have been recruited to help develop a unique, new
government-funded £1.1m website called Rizer (www.rizer.co.uk - under
construction), in a 'poacher turned gamekeeper' initiative to tackle
criminal behaviour amongst young people.

Today's British Crime Survey data (9 Jan 03) shows that more than a third of
people cite anti-social behaviour problems and 'teenagers hanging around' as
a very or fairly big problem. Rizer's primary purpose is to act as a
deterrent to criminal behaviour and to explain and provide neutral guidance
on the criminal justice system as it relates to issues such as guns,
violence, drugs, theft and racism.

Launching in April 2003, the Rizer initiative is using a group of former
young offenders and other young people to create an edgy and urban visual
and language style. The group calls itself the 'WS Cru' and is involved at
every stage of the development process, including the name 'Rizer', with
individuals advising on their own experience of crime, the Police and the
criminal justice system.

A combination of text, audio, photos and video is being used to communicate
with both young people at risk of falling into crime, many of whom suffer
from low literacy skills, and the parents and concerned adults working with
them. It will include a 24-hour helpline and legal advice as well as links
to organisations providing essential help and assistance.

By capitalising on the particular appeal of the web to young people Rizer
aims to open up a direct and impartial communication channel. The site will
contain interactive case studies illustrating possible reasons for and
different types of criminal behaviour as well as the consequences of
becoming involved in crime and alternative behaviour patterns.

The National Centre for Citizenship and the Law (www.nccl.org.uk) part of
the award-winning Galleries of Justice museum
(www.galleriesofjustice.org.uk) is developing the site. The
Nottingham-based Galleries was chosen to deliver the project because of its
reputation for innovative work with young people on issues of crime and
social exclusion. Much of its work is based around the proven value of
early intervention to divert young people at risk from becoming involved in
crime.

A voluntary sector organisation, the Galleries is working with voluntary,
charity and statutory organisations to develop the site. Victim Support,
the Police, Youth Justice Board, Magistrates Court, teachers and the
Commission for Racial Equality are all making a significant input into the
development of the site through a project board and are closely involved in
its progress.

"Who better to ask about deterring young people from a life of crime than
former-offenders?" says Peter Armstrong, CEO at the Galleries. "Their
advice is crucial because our research shows that they often don't trust or
even understand information from established sources.

"If we can deter young people from falling into criminal behaviour in their
teens then there is a much better chance that they will never enter the
criminal justice system at all. That's good news for young people
themselves and for the public who have expressed their concerns about
teenagers in today's Crime Survey data."

Money for the £1.1m initiative is coming from the government's 'Invest to
Save' and Criminal Justice IT budgets and brings a new element to the
government's crime reduction strategy. Young people commit more than 40% of
all crime and more than 80% of those entering a young offenders institution
re-offend within two years.

"If Rizer deters just a small percentage of young people from becoming
involved in crime then the benefits to society will be substantial," says
Steve Brookes, Crime Reduction Director at the Government Office of the East
Midlands (GOEM).

The Galleries of Justice has chosen the Citizenship Foundation
(www.citfou.gov.uk) to provide the content for the site while new media
specialists Digit (www.digitlondon.com) will supply the branding and visual
identity.

The Politics of Childhood

The Universities of Hull and Bradford’s recently-established Joint Centre for the Social Study of Childhood has held its third international conference, ‘The Politics of Childhood’.

The Centre is located in the Department of Comparative and Applied Social Sciences at Hull and the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities at Bradford.

Hull welcomed over 100 delegates from all over the world to participate in what one American visitor described as “the high point of his recent academic adventures”.

A proposal has now been drawn up for an edited volume of the best papers given at the conference.

The conference opened with a plenary address by one of the Co-Directors of the Centre, Dr Allison James, who also set out the interdisciplinary themes addressed.

The Centre’s second Co-Director Professor Adrian James said: “The interdisciplinary nature of the conference was greatly in evidence in the wide spread of papers, including several given by Bradford staff, engaging in so many rich and different ways with the politics of childhood.”

Highlights of the conference included the Director of the Refugees Council, Nick Hardwick, who gave his audience an insight into the plight of refugee children in the UK, and Professor Irene Rizzini, from the International Centre for Research on Childhood in Rio de Janeiro, who gave a moving account of the biographical trajectories of Brazilian street children when faced with the state’s attempts to institutionalise and control them.

Meanwhile, Professor John O’Neil from Toronto amused the audience with his historical tale of the rise and demise of the American family as witnessed through movies. And three young people, representatives from young people’s organisations, described their own experiences of participation and the tokenism that sometimes occurs.

The closing panel offered delegates the chance to reflect on what they had learned from the conference.

One American delegate said: “I am now thinking deeply about the role of children and children’s issues in political movements ... and talking to people far and wide about the advanced state of academic and political thinking in the UK.”

For further information, please contact Rachael Ellis in Corporate Communications on (01274) 233084/0787 9437986 or Emma Scales on (01274) 233089. Alternatively, e-mail press@bradford.ac.uk or fax on (01274) 235460.

EASTER FUN FOR CHILDREN THAT'S EASY ON YOUR POCKET!

With Easter just around the corner, it is time once again for parents to think about activities for their children over the holidays. If it is fun filled, action packed sporting activities that your children are after - then King's Sports Camps offer the ideal solution. This is also good news for parents pockets because the camps offer superb value for money at under £3 an hour, dropping to under £2 an hour when extra hours are booked - far cheaper than most childcare costs.

King's Sports Camps operate 60 camps throughout the UK, using fully qualified teachers and sports students to deliver a fun, action-packed and varied programme of entertainment for children aged 4-17. Linda Gascoyne, spokesperson for The King's Trust is urging parents to book early if they want to avoid disappointment for their children. "Places at the camps are already filling up fast, with many of the same children returning year on year. Each year we try to offer something different and extend our range of activities, which encourages even greater interest from parents looking for things to do that will keep their children occupied. I would encourage parents looking for adventurous, enjoyable and challenging pursuits, guaranteed to get their children away from the tv screen, to get in touch."

Parents struggling with childcare for their children during the holidays will also find that King's can provide the perfect solution to their needs. The camps all accept childcare vouchers and many parents will be eligible for tax benefits through the Working Families Tax Credit. Plus many of the camps operate Xtra Time - offering Xtra fun, Xtra Value and Xtra care from 8.30am - 5.30pm, to provide even greater support for working parents.

Linda Gascoyne continues "The camps offer guaranteed sporting excitement and fun for children across all age ranges and first class childcare facilities. Children are offered a varied range of up to 20 activities and from the moment they enter the camp until they leave, they are provided with structured coaching designed to thrill and grab the attention of even the most anti-sports child! Once a child has discovered the adventure and delights that sports can bring I am confident that they will want to return again and again. We make it fun with plenty of choice for them to try sports such as lacrosse, that they may not have tried before. All camps also offer 'Activity Xtras' such as water sports, dance, drama, athletics and climbing and our Xtra Time involves art and craft activities and chill out sessions. It is also an excellent opportunity for similar aged children to mix and make new friends, and parents can be reassured that they are being kept out of trouble in a safe environment."

The organisation prides itself on offering excellent value for money and as a charitable trust, parents can be assured that their contributions go towards worthwhile projects such as supporting children in communities with HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

For further information call 0845 141 0800, Email:info@kingssportscamps or visit website www.kingssportscamps.com

NEW BOOK TO CELEBRATE THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY

The National Autistic Society has published a new and moving book containing
a collection of the best entries from the art competition as part of the
celebrations of the 40th Anniversary of The National Autistic Society in
2002.

The book Autism. The problem is understanding includes poems, pictures,
stories, photographs, drawings and paintings by people with autistic
spectrum disorders, parents and carers, families and friends and
professionals working with people with autistic spectrum disorders from all
over the United Kingdom.

Jane Asher, President of the NAS said:
"It's not often a book manages to be entertaining, informative and moving
all at the same time, but that's exactly what is achieved...A few minutes
reading some of these extraordinary and revealing anecdotes and poems will
explain more about this complex disorder than hours of textbooks."

The book is available from National Autistic Society Publications. Call
Barnados Despatch Services on: 01268 522872 to order a copy. ISBN 1 899280
38 3

ADHD -A natural way to solve hyperactivity and learning deficiencies in Children

Publication of press releases does not infer that Children Webmag endorses any product

Manchester United Kingdom 15 November 2002

The increase in anti-social behaviour, learning and concentration difficulties in children is now a serious subject for many parents.

As if bringing children up wasn't difficult enough, recent years have seen a sharp increase in child behavioural problems in the United Kingdom.

In a new study, the NICE institute says that about 73,000 school-age children in England and Wales meet the diagnostic guidelines for ADHD.

Recent research has confirmed what many researchers have thought; that there is a serious link between diet and these issues.

Research conducted in US and European studies have shown that children with learning and concentration problems and antisocial behaviour are often deficient in three fatty acids:
.. EPA,
.. DHA and
.. GLA

Our brains contain 60 % fat, out of which a major part belongs to the so-called essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA, DHA and arachidonic acid (AA), an end metabolite of GLA. They are essential for proper cognitive skills, such as learning, concentration and memory, as well for vision, hearing and normal behaviour. People with learning and concentration problems and asocial behaviour are often deficient in these fatty acids. A daily supplement of these three fatty acids, EPA, DHA and GLA, may correct the failure and improve the cognitive skills and behaviour.

One of the first products to apply these newly discovered associations is ABC-EPA Neurobalance a new "brain nutrition" product developed by Dr Matti Tolonen http://www.1stvitality.co.uk/matti_tolonen/index.html for normalising the functions of the human brain. Based on solid science, ABC-EPA Neurobalance corresponds closely to the latest scientific research in this rapidly proceeding area.

Modern Apprenticeships

Modern Apprenticeships are a key tool currently being re-launched by the LSC to combat skills shortages and improve staff retention. MAs give young people aged 16-24 a helping hand up the career ladder. They offer a paid job, with training. At the end of this is a recognised qualification - NVQ Level 2 or 3.

MAs are invaluable to apprentice and employer alike. Employers benefit by gaining access to the necessary financial assistance to increase their portfolio of skills and young people have the opportunity to gain real experience and on-the-job training.

Employers benefit in a number of ways from Modern Apprenticeship programmes: they are designed by employers to meet industry training needs, help reduce staff turnover and increase employee motivation and standards of quality.

MAs help businesses succeed in an increasingly competitive environment. By offering apprenticeships, employers in the caring industry can help raise standards and productivity, ensuring the future provision of a highly skilled workforce.

Modern Apprenticeships are already increasing the number of qualified people in the caring industry. Currently, approximately 9% of Advanced MAs and 10% of Foundation MAs are in the caring sector which is a fairly significant proportion. MAs are a considerable advantage in an industry where qualifications are virtually compulsory and enable organisations focusing on early years care and education to meet the necessary quotas of qualified staff.

These figures should get even higher - the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review has confirmed new targets for the LSC in terms of the number of people who should be embarking on these apprenticeships. The LSC is aiming to place an additional 15,000 apprentices across all sectors of industry each year by 2004. This will increase the number of people on MAs from 23 per cent to 28 per cent of the overall 16-24 population.

MAs also support the government's recent attention to vocational learning. The schemes recognise the importance of learning a specific trade and emphasize the fact that the majority of jobs DO have structured career paths. Working in the caring industry is a career, not a part-timers choice.

Primary Baccalaureate - Measuring what we value in Primary Schools

A Primary Baccalaureate could be the key to developing children's education beyond literacy and numeracy targets according to a new project launched by the Institute for Public Policy Reseach (ippr) today (Monday). The ippr and the RSA aim to pilot the use of the new baccalaureate in the new year.

The Primary Baccalaureate would take the form of a qualification that children could work on throughout their primary years, but dedicate much of Years Five and Six towards. Its main purpose would be to allow every pupil, armed with good literacy and numeracy skills, to discover and pursue their one or two learning passions in much greater detail.

Joe Hallgarten Associate Director of ippr and lead researcher on the project said:

"Creative thinking around the future of the primary curriculum and associated assessments is urgently needed. The key challenge for primary schools is to ensure that the literacy and numeracy strategies, which have brought benefits to many children's learning, act as foundations for deeper learning, rather than barriers to such learning.

"A well-designed Primary Baccalaureate, making full use of new technologies, other 'expert adults' and places of learning outside the school could enable schools to meet the challenge of enriching learning and motivating learners. A Primary Baccalaureate could provide primary schools with a chance to change the curriculum for themselves. Otherwise within the decade , yet again, somebody will do it for them."

T James Sprott OBE 10 Combes Road
MSc PhD FNZIC Remuera
Consulting Chemist Auckland 5
Forensic Scientist New Zealand

Phone & fax: 64-9-5231150
sprott@iconz.co.nz

NEW RESEARCH IN BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL CONFIRMS AGAIN:
INFANT MATTRESSES CAUSE COT DEATH

Cot death expert Dr Jim Sprott has welcomed new research which confirms that
infant mattresses cause cot death. A four-and-a-half year study by the
Scottish Cot Death Trust(1) published in the British Medical Journal (2nd
November 2002) has shown that the re-use of infant mattresses TRIPLES the
risk of cot death.

“This research finding cannot be ignored,” said Dr Sprott. “It is crucial
to cot death prevention.”

>From late 1994 Dr Sprott has publicised mattress-wrapping for cot death
prevention nationwide in New Zealand, and since that time a very large
number of babies have slept on wrapped mattresses. There has been no
reported cot death among those babies; the New Zealand cot death rate has
fallen by 48%(2), and the European/Pakeha rate by about 75%.

Earlier this year a German doctor published the results of the New Zealand
mattress-wrapping campaign(3) in an overseas journal, including statistical
analysis carried out in conjunction with the University of Munich. The
statistics showed that the proof of the validity of mattress-wrapping for
cot death prevention was one billion billion times(4) the level of proof
generally accepted by the medical community as proving a scientific
proposition.

“The 100% success of mattress-wrapping has been proved in New Zealand over a
period of nearly eight years,” said Dr Sprott. “Now Scottish researchers
have confirmed that mattresses cause cot death, and a German doctor has
demonstrated that the proof of mattress-wrapping is vastly greater than the
accepted medical standard of proof.”

“The Ministry of Health, Cot Death Association and Plunket have been
dithering around over mattress-wrapping for nearly eight years,” said Dr
Sprott. “During that time around 550 New Zealand babies have died
needlessly of cot death. The Ministry, Cot Death Association and Plunket
have been informed time and again about the efficacy of mattress-wrapping in
preventing cot death - yet they have refused to act on this life-saving
information. I hold them responsible for those 550 deaths.”

* * * * * *

(1) Tappin et al, Used infant mattresses and sudden infant death syndrome
in Scotland: case-control study, British Medical Journal 2002;325:1007

(2) >From 2.1 deaths per 1000 live births in 1994 to 1.1/1000 in 2000
(provisional)

(3) Kapuste, H, Giftige Gase im Kinderbett (“Toxic Gases in Infants’
Beds”), Zeitschrift fuer Umweltmedizin No. 44; January-April 2002:18-20

(4) p < 1.9 x 10(exp minus 22) (The generally accepted figure for
medical proof is p < 1.0 x 10(exp minus 3))