The [...]]]> Mothers’ Union has produced a fantastic new resource called “Hand in Hand”, which is has been created to help families enjoy their faith together. This resource is meant both for parents who are already strong in their faith and desire to nurture this in their children, and for those who fell less certain.

The booklet comprises a number of sections, including practical ways in which to share family spirituality and celebrate the wonder of life in good times and bad, which can be used to enable us to develop our personal and family faith and more.

Each copy cost £2.00, however discounts are available for bulk orders and can be obtained from central services via email at centralservices@themothersunion.org or telephone on 020 7222 5533.

There is more information about the booklet on this flyer which you can give to parents of all your local groups and congregations: Hand_in_Hand_flyer_2011

Many families want their young children to be baptised in church, but don’t always understand that on behalf of their children, this starts them on a journey [...]]]> As we enter 2011 there are two resources from Mothers’ Union that will help families and supporters of Mothers’ Union focus on important aspects of family life.

Many families want their young children to be baptised in church, but don’t always understand that on behalf of their children, this starts them on a journey of faith in which they can encourage and lead their children. A new information sheet from Mothers’ Union helps explain what baptism is about, and why it is important. To make use of it in your own family, or ministry, please download it from here: Mothers_Union_Baptism_Resource_2010

Prayer is an important part of our faith journey, and of the way that Mothers’ Union works. Each month new prayer resources is offered by Mothers’ Union for use at mid-day: this is a time where in each of the 80+ countries where Mothers’ Union members live, members meeting together gather for prayer. For January these prayers celebrate 2011 as the ‘Year of the Bible’ and offers a link to a website (BibleFresh.com) that celebrates the life-changing impact the Bible can make on our lives. Feel free to download and use our January prayer resource: Midday_Prayers_January_2011

Happy New Year.

The story first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday, and was confirmed today by in the BBC and by the Department of Education .

The DofE press [...]]]> It has been announced today (Monday 6th December 2010) that Mothers’ Union Chief Executive has been asked to head a review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood.

The story first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday, and was confirmed today by in the BBC and by the Department of Education .

The DofE press notice states that

Taking in views of consumers, particularly parents and the business community, Mr Bailey has been asked to put forward recommendations, which are informed by evidence, that are challenging and will respond to the high levels of public concern.

The review will look at the following themes:

• risks of harm and barriers to parenting
• principles – what is acceptable in this area and what is not
• consumer voice
• corporate social responsibility.

Mothers’ Union issued the following statement:

Reg Bailey, Chief Executive of Mothers’ Union has been asked to chair the Independent Review of the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood. The review has been commissioned by Sarah Teather MP, the Minister for Children and Families, and is part of a strong commitment made by both David Cameron and Nick Clegg to give a real measure of support to family life. Rosemary Kempsell, the World Wide President of Mothers’ Union, said ” We are  delighted that Reg has been asked to chair this Independent Review as Mothers’ Union is absolutely committed to seeing children as children, not simply as consumers. We have  been involved with the welfare of children for many years, but have more recently launched our Bye Buy Childhood Campaign in precisely this area because so many parents express their concerns to us.

Local Mothers’ Union Trustee, Rachel Hartland has recently put together a presentation on the Bye Buy Childhood Campaign which could form an evening’s discussion to raise awareness of the issues involved. Those interested are welcome to download the Powerpoint notes here: Who is buying our childrens childhood?

More information about initial responses to the presentation and questions raised can be found here on Rachel’s personal blog, with a link that will help you download from YouTube adverts you think inappropriate here. If you would like more information or help regarding this ongoing campaign, Rachel and other Diocesan Mothers’ Union Trustees can be contacted via the “Contact Us” facility on this website (bottom right).

Travelling Festivals are enjoyable projects, enabling local groups to reach out to families with young children.

They can bring the stories behind major Christian festivals into the homes of families connected to your church, in the midst of what are becoming increasingly commercial times of year.

Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester [...]]]>

Travelling Festivals are enjoyable projects, enabling local groups to reach out to families with young children.

They can bring the stories behind major Christian festivals into the homes of families connected to your church, in the midst of what are becoming increasingly commercial times of year.

Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester think the original idea came from Bridport, and came to us via Mary Sumner House, the head office of Mothers’ Union.

There is a Nativity Crib and also an Easter Basket and details of how you might work these projects in your local community are on the information sheet here: Travelling Festivals Sheet

The Mothers’ Union’s regional communications officer in the Diocese of Winchester is [...]]]> Mothers’ Union has launched it’s Bye Buy Childhood Campaign, which aims to encourage a cultural shift away from the exploitation of children through marketing, and offers parents support and advice on coping with the impact of our multi-media world on family life.

The Mothers’ Union’s regional communications officer in the Diocese of Winchester is herself mum to a teenage boy, and wife to a secondary school teacher. She believes that to avoid the pressure to buy the latest gadgets, toys and clothes for children, parents have to be resilient to the pressures themselves, and teach children mechanisms to cope, especially in the run-up to Christmas. She says:

“To help our son understand from a young age that adverts on TV weren’t for things that we needed, even if they looked like things we might ‘want’, we used to joke ‘What a lot of things that we don’t need’ and almost turn it into a slogan or rhyme that was said every time the adverts came on!”

She continues:

“We also believe, from my husband’s experience of teaching in secondary schools, that children should not have TVs and video games in their bedrooms – so we have to set an example by doing the same ourselves. Interestingly this sort of example has had an effect – our son now refuses to join a social networking site, even though we both benefit from keeping in touch with friends from around the globe via social networking. He’d rather be doing something creative – preferably outside in the fresh air, or on a musical instrument!”

The Mothers’ Union report describes the key methods by which children are persuaded to buy or pester adults for products and services that they become aware of through premium offers, competitions, give-aways, ‘advergames’, magazine articles and cartoon or celebrity promotions. It asks manufacturing, marketing and retail industries to adhere more carefully to existing regulations and guidelines for selling to children, and wants government to live up to its’ pledge to ‘take steps to tackle the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood’.

The Mothers’ Union Bye Buy Childhood campaign provides campaign resources and a petition so that you can get involved make your voice heard, but will also resource families to think through the issues and take practical action to challenge the commercialisation of childhood within the home.

What are your experiences of the impact of commercialisation on your children?
Please use our ‘comment’ facility on this post, to share your thoughts on this campaign.

Help Mothers’ Union get the UK to say “goodbye” to “buying childhood”.

If you wish to contact our regional communications officer,
please use the “Contact Us” link at the bottom of the right hand column of this website.

Research carried out amongst 1,000 parents by ComRes, for Mothers’ Union, showed that 71% of parents believe that the media encourages children to act [...]]]> Research out today shows that 80% of UK parents believe media and marketing with sexualized content is too easily accessed by children, and makes them sexually aware too young.

Research carried out amongst 1,000 parents by ComRes, for Mothers’ Union, showed that 71% of parents believe that the media encourages children to act older than they really want to and that 67% of parents believe that inappropriate content is shown on TV before the 9pm watershed.

Mothers’ Union’s report, Bye Buy Childhood: A report into the commercialisation of childhood published today, reveals new research into parents’ experiences of the pressures that commercialisation brings to bear on family life, and draws on existing research to demonstrate the negative effects that a consumer-culture has on children’s wellbeing.

Speaking at the campaign launch Rosemary Kempsell, Worldwide President of Mothers’ Union said, “Mothers’ Union is concerned at the increasing levels of marketing aimed at children. Brands deliberately encourage a culture of “pester power” or use manipulative techniques such as recruiting young people as conduits for peer-to-peer marketing. This is having a far-reaching effect on children’s values, and their family life. Marketers play on the need that children have to fit in with their friends, to belong. We believe exploiting children for profit is wrong.” Through Bye Buy Childhood Mothers’ Union is calling for change, asking marketing, media and retailers to make a difference to childhood by:

• Not taking advantage of children’s natural inexperience to sell to them
• Not marketing or selling goods of a sexualised nature to children under 16
• Ensuring that children under 16 are not exposed to the marketing and display of sexualised products.

Bye Buy Childhood will tackle the commercialisation of children at every level – from raising awareness to providing support and advice to parents.

“We want to encourage a cultural shift, with new codes of practice put in place so that childhood is both a respected as well as a creative time rather than predominantly a marketing opportunity.” said Fleur Dorrell, Head of Faith & Policy at Mothers’ Union. “Values of good parenting, of belonging and of choosing what brings happiness should not be sold to us as a product or a purchase.”

The full research report can be downloaded here Mothers’ Union – Bye Buy Childhood Report, or from www.byebuychildhood.org where there are further campaign resources.

The Diocese of Winchester are featuring the Mothers’ Union campaign here Campaign Against Commercialisation of Childhood

The first is the latest update about Social Policy issues as the Mothers’ Union connects with current reports and issues affecting family life, including parental leave.

Rachel Aston, Head of Social Policy at Mothers’ Union, and speaker at this weeks Mary Sumner [...]]]> Two useful updates have come out from Mothers’ Union central office today.

The first is the latest update about Social Policy issues as the Mothers’ Union connects with current reports and issues affecting family life, including parental leave.

Rachel Aston, Head of Social Policy at Mothers’ Union, and speaker at this weeks Mary Sumner Day event at Old Alresford Place, is asking for feedback on the ‘Every Family Matters’ report commissioned by Iain Duncan Smith.

Information on both these issues can be found by clicking on this link: Policy_Watch_August_2009

Rachel Aston will be speaking on the ‘Commercialisation of Childhood’ at Old Alresford Place near Winchester this Sunday 9th August. Follow the link to this previous post for full details and a location map: Mary Sumner Day 2009

There is also news of how Mothers’ Union provided Relief Fund grants in Sudan, DR Congo and Uganda in the wake of violence by the Ugandan based Lords Resistance Army, which has since eased. The Relief Fund grants support the emergency needs of those caught up in natural and man-made disasters, including the current draught conditions in Kenya. More information can be found in this link: Relief_UpdateApril _July_09