Sun Protection Initiative Launch
In partnership with the Melanoma Fund
YLF Launches Sun Protection Initiative for Young People
YLF is proud to announce the launch of its new Sun Protection Initiative in partnership with Melanoma Fund.
This proactive initiative is aimed at raising awareness and safeguarding the health of young people engaging in our programmes and designed to not only educate and protect, but to also ensure an even playing field for vulnerable young people when it comes to sun protection.
The key elements of the initiative are:
- Education and Policy: Integrating sun safety into our regular programmes alongside a new Sun Safety Policy to inform staff and young people about the risks of UV exposure and the importance of protective measures. There will also be enhanced consent forms and risk assessments to strengthen our commitment to protecting young people.
- Protective Clothing: Encouraging and providing hats, sunglasses and UV resistant clothing to our young people who forget or do not own clothing to keep them safe in the sun.
- Sunscreen Use: Providing Melanoma Fund’s ‘Sunboards’ at YLF youth hubs and activities with SPF 50+ sunscreen and teaching proper application techniques.
- Shade Provision: Ensuring outdoor activity areas are equipped with adequate shaded spaces.
- Activity Scheduling: Planning outdoor activities to best avoid peak UV radiation times.
Our staff and volunteers will complete the Melanoma Fund’s comprehensive on-line training course, and become ‘Sunguarding Accredited’ to effectively learn, promote and model sun-safe actions. YLF ensures young people, parents, staff and volunteers will be well-informed about its Sunguarding measures and continue to educate and equip its young people through workshops and activities with thanks to resources and support via the Melanoma Fund’s targeted campaigns.
Kristy Tidey, Director of YLF Youth Programmes, states,
“We are committed to the well-being of our young people and are excited to launch this comprehensive Sun Protection Initiative. We are very thankful to have the opportunity to access the support and informative education opportunities offered by the Melanoma Fund.
The Melanoma Fund’s dedication to preventing melanoma and other forms of skin cancer through education and advocacy aligns perfectly with YLF’s commitment to supporting vulnerable young people. The training they provided was clear, concise and a stark reminder of how important it is for organisations to proactively sun protect anyone taking part in outdoor activities.
We look forward to embedding the fantastic resources and education opportunities provided by the Melanoma Fund across the organisation, educating and protecting our staff, volunteers and young people.”
Michelle Baker, CEO of the Melanoma Fund, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership, stating,
“We are delighted to work with the Young Lives Foundation. By providing these vital resources, we aim to raise awareness about the risks of sun exposure and encourage proactive protection measures. This collaboration is a crucial step towards our goal of reducing melanoma cases through education and prevention.”
We are incredibly grateful to the Melanoma Fund for their ongoing support and for providing 9 sunboards and SPF50 sunscreen, as part of a donation from West Malling Golf Club. These sunboards are designed to offer clear and accessible information about the importance of sun safety, as well as providing SPF50 sunscreen for those who may not have access to it.
For further information on the Melanoma Fund visit www.melanoma-fund.co.uk
