The Campaign launched on Thurs 26th July - view the from our launch event

 

Legal briefing now online

 

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Welcome to 'Every Child in Need' - our campaign to protect society's most vulnerable children from damaging changes proposed by the Department for Education.

 

We are charities, campaigners and lawyers. We work with and reach thousands of children across the country, including disabled children, children who have been trafficked, and others facingchallenges such as street homelessness, physical or sexual violence (often gang-related), parental neglect, educational difficulties and behavioural or mental health problems. All of these arechildren 'in need'.

 

The Department for Education is proposing wide-ranging changes to the legal framework which protects these children.  The Ministers, Michael Gove MP and Tim Loughton MP, say these changes involve cutting 'red tape',allowing local authority children's services departments more freedom to meet children's needs.  Many local authorities - cash-strapped following swingeing cuts to their budgets - are happyto take this lifeline, which will mean less pressure to act quickly when a child in need comes to their attention.

 

We disagree.  The legal framework is not 'red tape' - it is an essential safety net for children when they are failed by their local authority.  Basic minimum national standards andrequirements are essential.  A hands off approach, allowing local authorities to do what they want, when they want, is dangerous.

 

Even the Government's own impact assessment (.pdf) recognises this - it accepts that, "there is a risk of negative impact on children if central government is less prescriptive.”   That is not arisk we should be taking.

 

We believe these changes are wrong-headed, dangerous and will place the most vulnerable children at risk.  Join us and stop these changes.     

 

Every Child in Need

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