Gambling

26th June 2024Louise Gatti

A 2023 report from the Gambling Commission found that 40% of 11–to 17-year-olds had some experience of gambling in the preceding 12 months. That’s a significant number of children and young people involved in an over 18s activity. Engagement and exposure to gambling can impact one’s finances, mental health and wellbeing. It is crucial we are all aware of the risks and know how to protect and support our children.

It is quite challenging to protect our children against exposure to gambling at any time, but especially around major sport events like Euro 2024. This week’s Wake up Wednesday guide tackles the most prominent risks that gambling poses to young people, and explains how best to protect against them.

Promoting Physical Wellbeing

19th June 2024Louise Gatti

A recent Sport England study found that less than half (47%) of children in the UK currently meet the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of taking part in an average of 60 minutes or more of sport and physical activity a day. While this figure may see a rise during the Euros, taking this chance to get children and young people engaged in regular exercise could cement the increase in a more permanent way.

However, it can be tricky to know where to start, or how best to encourage young people to stay active – so, our Wake up Wednesday guide is here to offer some tips. This week, we’re sharing expert advice on how to promote exercise and the importance of physical wellbeing for the younger generation.

Fair Play and Friendly Competition

12th June 2024Louise Gatti
According to Statista, 69% of children currently engage in competitive sport, either in or out of school. Thanks to the Euros, it’s very possible that percentage will see an uptick in the coming weeks. Enjoying sport and revelling in healthy competition can have a fantastic impact on children’s development – but when presented with the idea of winning side emotions can sometimes run high, and feelings can be hurt.

A healthy approach to any kind of game or contest – not just the sporting variety – is an important quality to teach to children and young people; and our #WakeupWednesday guide can help you to do that. Our list of expert tips explains how to emphasise the value of playing fair and dealing with both victory and defeat in a reasonable, mature manner.

World Wellbeing Week

6th June 2024Louise Gatti
From June 24th to 30th, Duke’s will celebrate ‘World Wellbeing Week’. Throughout the week, various events will be held, and each year group will participate in a fundraising run to support the charity ‘If U Care Share’. Students should wear their PE uniform on the day of their scheduled run. The schedule is as follows:

– Monday, Period 5: Year 7
– Tuesday, Period 5: Year 8
– Wednesday, Period 5: Year 10
– Thursday, Period 5: Year 9

To make a donation, please visit the official school fundraising page at:

Palworld

5th June 2024Louise Gatti

With an all-time peak of 2.1 million concurrent players, Palworld rose to prominence after its release earlier this year on PC and Xbox, resonating in particular with the younger audience – both those who saw their favourite influencers playing it and those who bought the game themselves.

Despite its light-hearted presentation and cartoonish art style, Palworld has been noted for its mature references that could be inappropriate for children. What’s more, the presence of online multiplayer and the potential for interacting with strangers can pose further online safety risks. This week, we’re bringing you expert advice on how to protect young people from the concerns associated with Palworld.

Pop-up Ads

3rd June 2024Louise Gatti

A study from the University of Michigan reviewed 135 different apps aimed at children and found that 100% of free apps and 88% of paid apps (many of which were labelled ‘educational’), included pop-up advertisements With some pop-ups being associated with deceptive marketing and potential scams, it can be concerning to see just how prevalent these online features are.

Despite the risks pop-up advertising poses to people online – especially children – there is plenty you can do to minimise the threat. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide explains the safety concerns of pop-ups in detail and lets you know how to help children and young people enjoy their time online, without worrying about being taken in by such marketing.