Sun Poverty: Celebrities back campaign for disadvantaged children to get free sun cream

Celebrities have backed a scheme that will see disadvantaged primary school children get free bottles of high factor sun cream for the second year in-a-row.

Last year, 20,000 bottles of HPF lotion were handed out via Londonfood banks for children on free school meals to use over the summer holidays through the Sun Poverty campaign.

This year, they are aiming to increase that number to 30,000.

Former EastEnders actress and Strictly Come Dancing winner Kara Tointon, 38, who is mum to two boys under three, said: “It’s so important to keep children protected from the sun with good quality high factor sun cream.”

Tointon, who lives in West London, added: “Skin cancer is a growing problem in the UK, and that’s why I always keep my two little ones well covered in lotion at all times.”

The campaign is backed by world-renowned skincare expert and bestselling author Caroline Hirons, who is an outspoken advocate of broad-spectrum high factor SPF for everyday use and is supporting the campaign because malignant Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the UK and numbers have nearly tripled in the past 30 years.

Research says major sun exposure in childhood is the single most important risk factor for contracting life-threatening Melanoma and blistering sunburn doubles the chance of developing skin cancer as an adult.

TV presenter Nicki Chapman is another familiar face lending their support to the initiative which is being organised by online beauty retailer

She said: “Sunburn in childhood is the most common cause of skin cancer in later life. It’s vitally important that children and babies (and adults) are protected against the sun’s harmful rays with a high factor broad-spectrum sun cream. All children should have access to adequate sun protection

Escentual is also campaigning for the government to drop VAT on children’s sun cream which Chapman says she “fully supports”.

As a further part of their commitment, they have created educational comics for teachers across the UK to download and use to help teach children about good sun habits.

For more about the campaign click here.