Thursday 14th October 2010

Chesterfield College Childcare and Health and Social Care students took part in a 'Flash Mob' alongside other volunteers including Holby City star Duncan Pow at London's Victoria Rail Station in a bid to raise awareness of FASD (Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) on International FASD day in September.

Organised by NOFAS UK (The National Organisation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in the UK) this is the organisation's third annual 'Pregnant Pause' event. On the ninth minute of the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month the group and their 'balloon babies' froze on the spot for exactly nine minutes to tell the world that women will have healthier babies if they take a nine-month break from alcohol.

Caused when a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, FASD is the leading known preventable disability in the world. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink in pregnancy and NOFAS UK is keen to raise awareness of the associated dangers.

The students' lecturer and NOFAS-UK trainer Joanna Buckard said, "This message empowers women as they have the knowledge to make their own informed choice and also informs men so that they can support their partner and unborn child. Since the first Pregnant Pause UK event in 2008 it has been replicated in other countries including the USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand."

International studies suggest one in 100 babies are born with the condition in the UK although experts believe that this is a conservative estimate. It's likely that many children remain undiagnosed and are instead labelled as being immature, having poor social skills, lack boundaries and are the result of poor parenting.

Steve Kelly, Head of Learning, Social and Personal Care, Chesterfield College explains, "The College recognises the importance of raising awareness of FASD and so we're keen for the students to get involved. They have been learning about the condition which they will almost certainly come across in their fields of work. As part of Every Learner Matters, the event also helps them make a positive contribution to society."

For more information on FASD please visit  http://www.nofas-uk.org

Watch the 2010 Pregnant Pause Event here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilr9bSIHORE

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