As temperatures continue to soar across Hampshire, an Andover skin care professional has been helping to ensure children, parents and teachers stay protected from the sun during school sports days.
Donna Jackson, from Andover Aesthetic Practitioners, set up free “Sun Safe Stations” at sports days held at Icknield School and Hurstbourne Tarrant Church of England Primary School after noticing that many families often arrive without sun cream on what are typically some of the hottest days of the school year.
Concerned about the long-term importance of skin protection, Donna approached both headteachers with the idea of providing complimentary SPF 50 sunscreen to anyone who needed it throughout the events.
Using samples of a paediatric SPF 50 range supplied by the brand Heliocare, Donna, alongside her husband and parents, ensured pupils, teachers and parents could all top up their sun protection free of charge.
The initiative proved popular, with many parents expressing their gratitude for the service, while any remaining sunscreen samples were donated to the schools for future use.
Donna, who is a passionate advocate for educating families about sun safety and children’s skincare, hopes the initiative will encourage more schools to consider similar support at future outdoor events.
She thanked both schools for embracing the idea and helping make the initiative a success.
She said: “Sports Day is a time where so many people forget their crucial SPF – children, parents and teachers alike. I wanted to make sure nobody went without protection on such warm days.”
Donna is now inviting other schools across the area to get in touch if they would like a free Sun Safe Station at future events.
Alongside colleague Melanie Horne, she also runs skincare education workshops for parents and children to promote healthy skin habits from an early age. Their next workshop is due to take place on 12 August, from 10am until 2pm, at Andover Aesthetic Practitioners.
With health experts continuing to stress the importance of protecting skin from harmful UV rays, initiatives such as these aim to raise awareness that applying high-factor sunscreen, particularly during prolonged outdoor activities, is a simple but vital step in helping reduce the risk of sun damage.