The Harper-Lee campaign was started by the Sentinel and local MP Jo Gideon, working with Harper-Lee’s mum, Stacy, following the tragic death of Harper-Lee in Abbey Hulton last year. The campaign has been growing, with national and international support. The Harper-Lee Foundation is now a registered charity, dedicated to working with all those working to achieve the aim of ensuring no more children die from button battery ingestion. Harper-Lee’s death was not an isolated incident. In December, another toddler, Hugie McMahon in Scotland died after swallowing a button battery.
The Ministerial Working Group has brought together the widest possible range of experts to develop solutions. They will be looking at:
- Consumer awareness and education
- Evidence, data and international comparisons
- Industry standards and best practice
- Emerging technologies
- Enforcement and support for enforcing authorities
Jo Gideon MP said:
“I was delighted to join the Ministerial Working Group. It is made up of very senior representatives from retail, manufacturing, national and international trade bodies, regulators, children’s charities and health professionals. They are all determined to find solutions.
It is wonderful to hear them acknowledge the work of the Harper-Lee Foundation in catalysing their efforts to work collectively. I am so proud of the progress we’ve already made. This week I will be sending out teaching packs to all our local schools. The materials were developed by the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) with support from the British and Irish Portable Battery Association (BIPBA), who have been working with us from the start of the campaign.
I will be promoting the button battery awareness educational materials at the Potteries Centre on Wednesday May 4th from 10.30 – 12.30, and on Saturday May 7th 11.00 – 14.00 at a community event at the Betty Rushton Community Gardens in Abbey Hulton.”
The materials are also available to download from the Harper-Lee Foundation website: www.harperleefoundation.org.uk
