Blow the whistle on sunburn!
The Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code is a free educational resource for all those who work outdoors with primary aged children. By becoming Sun Protection Accredited you’ll find out why sun protection is vital, and how best to implement this into your outdoor sessions.
Why are children at risk?
Young skin is especially vulnerable to UV exposure, and with sunburn during childhood strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer in later life, it is vital to create good sun protection habits early on.
With skin cancer now at epidemic levels, our aim is to help keep outdoor loving children safe, protecting their skin today for a healthier ‘outdoor life’ tomorrow.
Who is this campaign for?
Individuals
Whether a coach, outdoor activity leader, instructor or teacher, if you work outdoors with children we can help you update your sun protection knowledge and improve your practices.
Organisations
Our guidelines are relevant and flexible for groups, clubs and schools. Share your policies centrally, and recommend staff become individually Sun Protection Accredited, helping strengthen knowledge all round.
Parents
Want to ensure your child develops good sun protection habits? Visit our parents portal to educate yourself and your child, and get your chosen activity provider to sign up too.
Our story
We launched the Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code in 2014 and each year we focus on making it easier to follow and more flexible, ensuring that getting Sun Protection Accredited works for you, your staff or your organisation.
We are partnered by the Association for Physical Education (afPE), the Child Protection in Sport Unit (NSPCC), UK Coaching and the Youth Sport Trust, who endorse our advice and ensure it is targeted and relevant. We are supported by a wealth of overarching sport and outdoor organisations who take sun protection seriously. This all filters down to our members; the individuals and organisations who create impact on the front line! For that we thank you, and will ensure that when it comes to sun protection, you are 100% all over it!
In association with
Getting children to understand why they need to protect their skin is the first step in building healthy habits.
We are relevant to all outdoor activities!
We are relevant to all outdoor activities!
When it comes to action, here is our game plan
What we do
Educate on all aspects of sun-protecting children
Help you create a Sun Policy and implement it effectively
Provide materials to support your work
Provide ‘Sun Protection Accreditation’ status
What you do
Sign up
Read our guidelines
Create a Sun Policy
Implement positive actions into your sessions
Use our resources to raise awareness
Signing up will provide access to resources which will fast-track your understanding of sun protection and improve your provision of this vital form of safeguarding to children, whether you are an individual or a group.
Watch and share!
Demonstrating how words without action can fail to protect children. Don’t just tick the box, make your actions count!
When working with children, there’s lots of things to remember, but when it comes to sun protection, there’s only five!
2014
Founded
520+
Members
120+
Supporters
As a parent, coach and player Casey understands the importance of sun protection from all sides and we are delighted to have her as a supporter.
Casey Stoney MBE
"I've spent a lot of time under the sun in my cricket career and totally see the relevance of this important initiative. As a coach and a dad, it is one that I am also very keen to support."
Matthew Hoggard MBE
"Having had melanoma, I want to make sure that others understand the risks; the importance of checking for changes in your skin and of course sun protection."
Jordan Moore
"As a gardener, I´ve always been sun aware and I´ve supported the Melanoma Fund for over ten years. The Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code is a brilliant idea, and a great way to ensure that youngsters can enjoy an outdoor lifestyle whilst being properly protected."
Alan Titchmarsh MBE DL
"The sooner we can find a cure for this terrible form of cancer that is affecting increasing numbers of sportsmen and women, the better."
Martin Johnson CBE
"I am pleased to support The Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code. It´s very easy to think that the weather in this country isn´t hot enough to cause damage, it is. So please make sure that you protect your kids when they are outside playing."
Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE
"Skin cancer is an issue I'm very aware of within the mountain guiding profession, as incidence in this sector is remarkably high. Having recently worked on the ice caps of the Southern Alps in New Zealand, I'm also aware of just how severe the UV index is at altitude, so I am proud to support this amazing campaign."
Calum Muskett
We are supported by over 120 sport and outdoor organisations
Make a Donation
Our work is focused on raising awareness of melanoma and other forms of skin cancer, all undertaken by a small, but focused team. Today is a tough environment for all charities, especially for smaller organisations like ourselves who depend on donations to survive. All support is greatly appreciated.