SOLIHULL magician Ben Hanlin has been filmed throwing a tantrum in support of a global campaign to highlight the crisis in early years provision.
In the video, the TikTok star – who has performed card tricks for US stars Kim Kardashian, Jamie Foxx and Quentin Tarantino – falls to the ground and screams at onlookers after one of his card tricks goes wrong.
The father-of-two who shot to fame performing magic to unsuspecting celebrities on YouTube, is supporting Theirworlds’s Global Tantrum, part of the charity’s Act for Early Years campaign calling for a revolution in early years provision.
He follows a host of celebrities backing the campaign, including comedian Matt Lucas and former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt.
The Global Tantrum aims to send a message to world leaders saying they are ignoring the world’s youngest children through lack of investment and political action.
According to Theirworld more than half of the world’s children – about 350 million – have no access to childcare and 175 million are not enrolled in pre-primary education.
Ben said: “As a parent, our most challenging time was definitely in those first few years. That is when we needed help the most.
“So many young families are struggling to balance work and increasing childcare costs. I really hope we can make a change and improve the lives of the future of young families.”
Theirworld will take the Global Tantrum to the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September to raise awareness among world leaders.
The charity says there is overwhelming evidence that shows that without proper support, children are at risk of going through life with poorer physical and mental health, and will face an uphill struggle to learn and, later, to earn a living.
Sarah Brown, chair of Theirworld, said: “The first few years of a child’s life plays such a vital role in their future development. It is so important that we push to ensure that they are supported fully in this period of their lives.
“We’re urgently in need of a global revolution in early years provision if we want to solve this problem. And it is our responsibility to drive this change to improve the lives of millions of children who are being left behind and let down.”
