Hot Off The Press March 2010 - latest update -
Exploratory Review of the system of regulating child performers
Child Employment Week 24th May to 4th June 2010 - RESULTS
Please note that the DVD 'Every Child Matters - Even When at Work' is no longer available. For those who hold a copy of the DVD please also note that it is subject to copyright restrictions. Thank you
Old links (previously featured here) please go to Bulletin Board in index
Chairman - NNCEE
When you are reading this message I know that you have entered the NNCEE’s web site. I trust that you will find the site comprehensive and of value. I am so thankful to Gwen Medd who is our web site administrator; this is after all,the NNCEE’s window to the UK as well as the world.
You are most welcome to read the information but even more welcome to contact either myself or other committee members to exchange views and to help us to improve our good practice and knowledge and the content of the site.
A Single Organisation for Child Employment and Entertainment
I know that I keep saying this but the NNCEE is the only organisation within the UK solely dedicated to the development and delivery of good practice for children who work part time and those involved in the entertainment industry, and as such is gaining even more recognition of the experience and developing expertise within its membership.
This recognition is being gained by our determination and efforts to persuade Government to update/modernise over 200 pieces of legislation concerning Child Employment and Entertainment.
Campaign to Modernise Legislation
We believe that there is urgent need to ensure that children are supported when undertaking part time employment and work in the entertainment industry provided that there are sufficient safeguards (such as working legally so that in the event of a serious accident employers liability insurance stands by their risk) as well as appropriate opportunity for them in an ever increasing multi-cultural and complex society.
High Profile Press and Government Attention
It is frightening when a child dies and becomes the focus of a national safeguarding issue and has wide press coverage as well as the attention at the highest levels of Government and a subsequent review.
Children in Employment and Entertainment also suffer from serious injury and sometimes death, but this goes unnoticed and does not appear to be of concern to society.
You will see on this web site references to EVERYCHILD MATTERS - EVEN WHEN THEY'RE AT WORK DVD - Winner of 'Best Promotion Award' Royal Television Society - non-documentary at their awards ceremony in 2008. The NNCEE’s campaign has the support of many high profile organisation’s who continue to work in partnership with the Network I cannot mention all of these simply because there are so many but I would thank them all for supporting our drive for change.
Some I must just mention are (but there are many more):-
NSPCC, Children’s Legal Centre, ITV Granada, National Federation of Retail Newsagents, NODA, The Production Guild of Great Britain, Stagecoach, Little Theatre Guild, TUC..........................
Government’s door is beginning to open oh! so slowly. But, I remain optimistic that the NNCEE’s resolve will continue until we have gained Government commitment for a better deal for working children, and that the NNCEE is fully recognised as an organisation committed to the ongoing safeguarding of these children through legislative change, whether it be those with part time jobs or those working within the entertainment industry.
Our aims remain unchanged (the full aims of the Organisation can be seen more fully within the written constitution) but generally they are:
- to be non political
- to seek to continue a dialogue with government representatives with regard to all issues affecting child employment and entertainment.
- to support the membership in sharing good practice, and to offer advice and guidance where appropriate.
- to recognise and promote the safeguarding of children in the field of child employment and entertainment.
- to develop the future of the NNCEE in order to co-ordinate policy, research and planning in the National and European arenas.
- to campaign nationally to raise the profile of child employment and entertainment.
The Future
The NNCEE will continue to develop its organisation to support its members and partners. All development must include reaching out to others in the belief of needing to create uncomplicated common practice for the benefit of children enabling them to embrace opportunity in the knowledge that they do so legally and that the highest regard for their welfare is being addressed. We continue to maintain our right to show our passion, as well as our disappointment with the slow and ineffective action by government so far and our desire to modernise Child Employment and Entertainment legislation for the benefit of allchildren.
Again I stress that I and the Committee Members of the NNCEE would welcome any opportunity to discuss, debate and learn from you and to offer our experience to others – it is for and all about children, keeping them safe and at the same time providing worthwhile experiences and opportunities and the positive outcome the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda demands.
