Support for Anti-Trafficking Campaign

On Friday, two members of my staff and I visited The Body Shop store in Chiswick to show our support for a campaign by ECPAT UK and The Body Shop UK to combat child trafficking. We met and chatted with staff (including the manager of the store), and discussed their new campaign. It was a great opportunity to hear more about the campaign and learn how they are supporting it. We had a wonderful time trying all The Body Shop lotions and potions, including a new limited-edition handcream called "Soft Hands, Kind Heart" - the profits from which will be going towards funding the campaign.

ECPAT UK (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) is a leading children's rights organisation campaigning against the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the UK and on its international aspects. In particular, it focuses on the protection of trafficked children and children exploited in tourism and the prevention of such crimes.
ECPAT and The Body Shop have partnered in a three-year global campaign to stop the trafficking of children and young people, uphold their rights to be protected from exploitation and inspire long-term change to strengthen the protection offered to these children and young people. Together, they are spearheading an international petition calling on governments across the globe to put child trafficking on their agenda and banish this modern-day slave trade.

In the UK, ECPAT UK and The Body Shop UK are specifically calling on the Government to offer greater care and protection to child victims of trafficking by ensuring every child is provided with a guardian to look after them.

I was really heartened to hear about the excellent work ECPAT UK and The Body Shop UK are doing to tackle the trafficking of children and young people for exploitation of many kinds. This appalling form of modern-day slavery must be stamped out and I am very happy to support such efforts by putting my name to the petition. I also call on people in my constituency to sign the petition too, which can be found at www.ecpat.org.uk or in any The Body Shop store. It will be delivered to the UK Government in 2011.

Don't forget to buy your handcream!

Playday Celebrated in Brentford

Yesterday I took part in the local Playday, which was held in St Paul's Recreation Ground, on Lateward Road, Brentford. Locally coordinated by Alix Reeves of Westplay, the event saw a wide range of fun and engaging activities for children of all ages. Amongst other things, youngsters enjoyed participating in face-painting, t-shirt decorating, hat-making, steel drum playing, bubble blowing and real-life table football. Catering was organised by the Cafe of St Paul's Church in Brentford.

I met a team from Chiswick and Brentford Your Extended Services (YES), who were on hand to give information on Hounslow Council's Extended Services scheme (past events have included yoga for exam-age children, paediatric first aid courses and a Healthy Cooking Club). I also enjoyed lunch from the St Paul's Church Cafe, where I hold regular surgeries.

Playday is the annual celebration of children's right to play, coordinated by Play England. It is an annual campaign where, each year, thousands of children and young people get out and play at locally organised events, encouraging the development of community feeling in the process.

I think this is a wonderful initiative. Play is an essential part of every child's life and is vital to their development. When I was a child, we were able to play freely in the streets and in the parks, and enjoy the great outdoors. Many children now do not get that opportunity.

The event was a chance for children to have a wonderful time together in a safe environment, and gives the community an occasion to come together. I look forward to seeing similar events locally in the future. Well done to the Playday team and the local volunteers!