Lord Puttnam speaks on inequality in child well-being

Lord David Puttnam CBE spoke to a packed out audience on the topic of inequality in child well-being, as part of York St John University’s Go York public lecture series on Wednesday 28 March.

In his lecture entitled ‘The children left behind - a response’, Lord Puttnam, formerly President of UNICEF UK, commented on a landmark UNICEF report which claims that rich countries are letting the poorest children fall behind. The report focuses on inequalities in child well-being in the world's rich countries, examining the dimensions of material wellbeing, education and health. Lord Puttnam addressed the importance of education for young people regardless of their background.

Speaking in advance of the lecture, Lord Puttnam said:

“Universities have a key role to play in engaging and informing young people of their choices and their potential to progress towards higher education. They create learning environments that are aspiring, informing and give fair access education in order to create a confident generation who are able to respond to all the challenges of the 20^th century.”

Lord Puttnam spent thirty years as an independent film producer. His many award winning films include The Mission, the Killing Fields, Local Hero, Chariots of Fire, Midnight Express, Bugsy Malone, and the Memphis Belle. His films have won ten Oscar's, 25 Bafta's and the Palme D'Or at Cannes.  

Retiring from film production in 1998, Lord Puttnam now focuses his work in education and the environment. In 1998 he founded that National Teaching Awards which he chaired until October 2008, serving as the first Chair of the General Teaching Council from 2000 to 2002. From July 2002 to July 2009, he was president of UNICEF UK, playing a key role in promoting UNICEF’s advocacy, awareness and fundraising objectives. Lord Puttnam was awarded a CBE in 1982, a knighthood in 1995 and was appointed to the House of Lords in 1997.

The next Go York lecture takes place on Wednesday 25 April at 6.30pm at York St John University. Professor Christy Adair of the Faculty of Arts will give her inaugural lecture on ‘Dance in a global context’. Admission is free but tickets must be booked in advance via http://www.goyorklordputtnam.eventbrite.com/. For further information please contact the conference and events office at York St John on T: 01904 876654.