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News and up-to-date commentary from the Action for Children team.

Cheer us on at the Virgin London Marathon

Joanne Mass 09 March

People cheering on runnersWe think that everyone who helps raise money for vulnerable and neglected young people deserves a cheer. Which is why we’re looking for people to help cheer on our runners at the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 25 April.

We’ll bring the whistles, clackers, t-shirts and flags; we just need you!

"Last year was my second visit to the London marathon and I found the whole event exhilarating. I went as a volunteer supporter for Action for Children and wearing the charity t-shirt and armed with the cheer gear, I felt part of a team that made a real difference encouraging the runners who were raising money for the charity. Definitely an experience to recommend!" Alysha Lawlor, volunteer

Or are you an exhibitionist?

We also have a stand at the marathon exhibition from 21 April to 24 April at the ExCel centre in Docklands and are looking for volunteers to help run it.

You would help us to greet our marathon runners, encourage future challenge participants to join the Action for Children running team and support us with some fundraising on the stand.

If you are available to help out any time during these days, we would love to hear from you.

“There was such a buzz at the Expo, the day went by so quickly. It was great to be able to meet so many runners and chat to them about their support for Action for Children, what motivates them and how they had been raising the sponsorship. We also brought on board a couple of new supporters who weren't running for a charity, but then chose to run for us after hearing about our work. A great day!” Gill Smith, volunteer

Get in touch

To find out more or get involved, please contact london.marathon@actionforchildren.org.uk


Launch of United We Stand

Hugh Thornbery 04 March

I was really pleased to be invited to the launch of United We Stand – which is the title of the Voluntary and Community Sector Manifesto for London’s Children and Young People.

What is great about this manifesto is the fact that it was written by 15 organisations – national charities like ours and other pan-London networks and organisations such as London Play and London Youth.

We are therefore very proud to have played a part in developing this manifesto, which clearly sets out how we can make the capital an even better place to grow up, both today and for generations to come.

Speaking at the launch last night were Natascha Engel MP, Chair of the APPG for Youth Affairs, Cllr Nick Stanton OBE, Leader of Southwark Council and lead member for Children and Young People at London Councils, Nick Wilkie, Chief Executive of London Youth, as well as Coelle Beaupierre, who spoke about her experiences as a young Londoner and how she has worked with Dare London.

A great event all round!

Download the manifesto: United We Stand: Voluntary and Community Sector Manifesto for London’s Children and Young People (pdf, 2mb)

Follow our 'Early intervention' debate live

Joanne Mass 02 March

You can follow our 'Tackling deprivation through early intervention' debate from 11.30am - 1.30pm at Policy Review TV

Panellists include:

  • Matthew Taylor - Chief Executive of the RSA and former chief adviser on political strategy to Tony Blair
  • Phillip Blond - ‘Red’ Tory and director of the influential new public policy think-tank Respublica
  • Professor Ruth Lister - Acting Head of Loughborough University’s Department of Social Science
  • Dame Clare Tickell - Chief Executive, Action for Children
Find out more about Deprivation and risk; the case for early intervention

Click clever, click safe

Joanne Mass 09 February

We think the internet’s great; but we also think we need to make it safer for children.

Our friends at the UK Council for Child Internet Safety have these tips for making sure children and young people stay safe online:

Click clever, click safeZip it: Keep your personal stuff private and think about what you say and do online

Block it: Block people who send you nasty messages and don’t open unknown links and attachments

Flag it: Flag up with someone you trust if anything upsets you or if someone asks to meet you offline

What’s next for services supporting children and families?

Joanne Mass 21 January

Family Futures Conference 2010Find out at the Family Futures Conference on Wednesday 24 February.

We have teamed up with Society Guardian, Children's Workforce Development Council and Social Care Institute for Excellence for a one-day event for professionals working in education, health and housing.

More about the Family Futures Conference

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