The Entertainer Dedicates Saturdays To Play In A Bid To Raise Funds For Young Minds and Awareness for Children's Mental Health Week

THE Entertainer, the fastest growing, family owned high street toy retailer in the UK, is partnering with Young Minds throughout February in support of Children's Mental Health Week that ran from Sunday, 2 February to Sunday, 9 February 2020. The Entertainer is making every Saturday a 'Day of Play,' championing the importance of play in children for a happy, healthy mind and emotional wellbeing.  Its 172 stores nationwide will become a hive of fun and play, with toys out of the packaging and ready to pick up and play. The team will also be on hand to demonstrate the range of toys and encouraging children to play with them together.

NHS research conducted in 2017 found 1 in 8 children have a diagnosable mental health disorder; that's roughly 3 children in every classroom; and there has been a sharp rise in conditions like anxiety and depression in recent years. There are currently gaps in early support for young people with mental health problems, according to the charity. In a survey of over 7,000 young people under 25 who have looked for mental health support, ⅔ of respondents said that they had been unable to find mental health support when they 1st needed it, and ¾ had had to manage their mental health on their own when they couldn't find help elsewhere.

In support of children's charity Young Minds and the great work they do, on Saturday, 8 February 2020, 10% of the profits from the sales of The Entertainer's Ready Steady Dough products will be donated to Young Minds. The day will also be filled with hands on fun with the in store Big Create where children will be able play with the Ready Steady Dough products and crafts.

Gary Grant, Founder and Executive Chairman at The Entertainer says:- "Modern childhood is filled with more pressures from an early age than ever before, from cyber bullying and peer pressure to School tests and performance expectations, being a child today isn't always fun and games. Yet fun and games is a release that children need to help them live a healthy and happy life and that's why Saturdays are being dedicated as a day of play throughout our stores and we're hoping families will enjoy the opportunity to play together more. It's also why we're supporting Young Minds and raising funds through the sale of our popular Ready Steady Dough range as mental health services for children need more support. We look forward to welcoming families into store to play together whilst supporting a great cause."

Nick Harrop, Head of Media and Influencing at Young Minds says:- "We are extremely grateful to The Entertainer for their support of Young Minds and their generosity will help us continue our vital work fighting for the mental health of children and young people across the country. The Entertainer's Big Create is the ideal way to bring people together to increase awareness of children's mental health issues."

For further information please visit:- TheToyShop.com and YoungMinds.Org.UK.

This research within this report was taken from the:- 'NHS the Mental Health of Children and Young People In England' report.  Also data is from Young Minds who had surveyed young people aged under 25 who had looked for support for their mental health in the UK. The survey was conducted from 16 August to 23 August 2019 and was completed by 7,083 young people all of whom had looked for mental health support in the UK. The survey was promoted on social media.

Pancreatic cancer survival rate increase to 7.9% but still the lowest survival rate of all major cancers

THE UK lags far behind other high income countries (5 year survival in Australia is almost 15%). New statistics published by the Lancet Oncology show the 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer to have risen to a record high, 7.9%, in the UK. The new survival rate was calculated using diagnosis and survival data from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The figures gathered were the most recent available, up to the end of the year 2015. Many places publish survival rates for pancreatic cancer, and it can be difficult to tell what is right. This data used in this Lancet study is taken directly from those sources where cancer data is reported, the Office of National Statistics, ISD/National Records of Scotland and the General Registrar's Office of Northern Ireland so we can ensure that our stats are as accurate as possible. Organisations may report data on diagnosis, staging, treatments and survival differently.

Though it may seem small, this is great news for pancreatic cancer. After almost five decades without a meaningful increase in survival, we are beginning to see a slow but positive trend upwards. 10 years ago, when Pancreatic Cancer Action was founded, survival was around 3% and had not increased in years. This study shows that we are beginning to make inroads into the disease, so more people can survive for longer.

Increases in pancreatic cancer survival are mirrored by increases in survival from other cancer types. There has been no 1 single reason for this. It is likely that improving surgical procedures, chemotherapies and other treatments have helped boost survival. The key to pancreatic cancer survival is early diagnosis, and work to raise awareness of the disease amongst the public and health professionals so more people are diagnosed earlier, through their GP, may be helping this increase.

Though this research shows that pancreatic cancer survival is improving in the UK, we still lag behind other high income countries. 5 year pancreatic cancer survival in Australia is almost 15% proving that improvements can be made now that will have an immediate effect on patients. The UK has far fewer diagnostic scanners like CTs compared to countries like Australia. Cancer waiting targets are failing to be met and staff vacancies continue to put strain on services. Pancreatic Cancer Action has highlighted these problems before and will continue to do so. Furthermore, pancreatic cancer survival still lags far behind the other cancers included in the study. It has the worst survival rate of any common cancer and compares with 97%, 85%, and 66% survival for testicular, breast and cervical cancers respectively. This is largely due to late diagnosis of the disease. 1 reason for this is that the symptoms are not well known by patients and Doctors alike and its symptoms are easily confused with other less serious ailments (upset tummies, back pain, etc.) Many people who are diagnosed visit Doctors repeatedly with symptoms, in some cases for years.

Becky Rice, Health and Policy manager at Pancreatic Cancer Action, says:- "We must continue to raise awareness of the disease, push for pancreatic cancer specific Policies to improve survival and keep the disease high on the agendas of researchers and Policy makers.  There are reasons to be positive about further improving the survival of pancreatic cancer. The planned introduction of rapid diagnostic centres and continued research into screening and early diagnosis could hold exciting developments for survival and we will continue to evaluate their results."

Pancreatic Cancer Action focuses on early diagnosis in everything we do. We help raise awareness throughout the UK and provide learning tools for GP's, Pharmacists and Hospital Doctors. We help give patients and medical professionals, the knowledge and confidence they need for the earliest possible diagnosis and the best possible chance of survival.

The charity also announced their intention to merge with Pancreatic Cancer Scotland to make a bigger impact and to make 2020 the decade of change for the disease.

As well an extreme lack of awareness (76% of the UK cannot name 1 symptom of the disease) there is a serious lack of funding and treatment options for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer currently receives less than 3% of Government funding, even though it is soon to overtake breast cancer as the 4th biggest cancer killer in the UK.