Boots UK is inspiring children to protect their skin this summer and make sun safe habits that last a lifetime with the launch of the Soltan Sun Ready programme.

The free sun safety education programme contains curriculum-linked teaching resources for children aged 5 – 14, and will be available to download for all teachers at www.soltansunready.com.

Through Soltan Sun Ready, Boots UK is providing 1,000 free Explorer Packs to the first registered primary schools, which include sun cream samples, hats and explorer notebooks.It is also running The BIG Exploration, a nationwide competition encouraging young people to get outside and have fun by searching for the country’s ‘most prepared adventurous explorer’.

For over 75 years – since 1939 – Boots UK has been at the forefront of sun protection development and it is committed to education about sun safety for both children and adults. With proven links between childhood sunburn and increased risk of melanoma, Boots UK understands the importance of inspiring sun safe habits early in childhood.

Soltan Sun Ready resources provide credible and up-to-date information with a clear message from a trusted source. The programme’s objective is to grow the health and wellbeing of the next generation, by tackling the increasing prevalence of malignant melanomas and other skin cancers among young people.

 

KEY FACTS

Most children know that sunburn is unpleasant and something to be avoided, but many will be unaware of why it is important to avoid sunburn:

• Studies suggest just one or two cases of severe sunburn during childhood can lead to the development of malignant melanoma
• England has the world’s fastest growing melanoma rates and it is now the UK's most common cancer for 15-35 year olds
• An estimated 86% of malignant melanoma cases in the UK are aligned to major life style and other risk factors such as avoidable ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun
• Since the late 1970s, malignant melanoma rates have increased by 360% in the UK – rising faster than any of the ten most common cancers
• Our eyes are ten times more sensitive to UV damage than our skin, children’s eye in particular are susceptible to sun damage and should wear sunglasses whenever they are exposed to the sun.
• Avoiding sun burn is easy if you follow a few simple steps:
  • Use sun cream with an SPF of at least 30
  • Cover up – wear a hat and sunglasses
  • Seek shade – use a tree, pop-up tent or umbrella
  • Be especially careful when the sun is strongest between 11am and 3pm

Sources: Cancer Research UK, ONS, Macmillan

 

FREE RESOURCES & EXPLORER PACKS

Soltan Sun Ready resources are free, curriculum-linked and downloadable, including lesson plans, teachers’ guides, student-facing videos and homework activities. Lesson plans are adaptable across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 for classes in Science, PSHE, English and Geography. Taking a fun, creative and engaging approach, the materials are easy to fit into lesson plans and activities include drama role plays, science experiments and writing tasks.

In the first year of the programme launch in 2015, 100% of teachers who used Boots’ sun safety learning resources found them useful. 96% of participating teachers said they would use the resources again and 95% would recommend them.

“As children, their skin is delicate. By educating them from a young age they develop better sun safety habits and can also influence others in their families and community.”

(Deputy Head Teacher)

Soltan Sun Ready will also provide free Explorer Packs containing product samples and a selection of Sun Ready goodies to the first 1,000 registered classes. Goodies include hats, stickers and badges for participating schools.

COMPETITION: THE BIG EXPLORATION

Soltan Sun Ready is running The BIG Exploration, a competition open to all participating primary schools. The BIG Exploration is all about encouraging children to get active by going outside and exploring the great outdoors.

The competition gives children aged 5 – 11 the opportunity to use their imagination and think about where they would like to explore, and how they would need to prepare for their adventure to protect themselves from the sun. This could be anywhere in the world, across the universe or even in fictional lands.

Competition entries are submitted on the Sun Ready website and can be video, photography, written resources or drawings. Closing Wednesday 25 May 2016, entrants can win a special one-off live event that will bring their winning exploration to life. Winners will be announced on Monday 6 June and the prize day will be held on Wednesday 29 June.

For more details on how to enter and win visit www.soltansunready.com.

 

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Notes to Editors

About Boots

Boots UK (boots.com), the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, is part of the Retail Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.  With 2,510* stores in the UK, Boots UK is committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare and offer innovative 'only at Boots' exclusive products such as the UK’s leading skincare brand No7, all delivered with the great value customers love. Created over 165 years ago, the Boots brand is still at the heart of the communities it serves.

*As at 31 August 2015 excluding equity method investments