Publications and briefings

2013

• Early Intervention – Where now for local authorities?
  The report identifies the lack of long-term central funding as the major barrier preventing local authorities from shifting children’s services towards early intervention and prevention. It outlines that a ten year spending plan that sets out the funding available for children’s services would enable local authorities to achieve the desired shift to early intervention approaches.

2012

• Impact Report 2012
  Research findings from several studies on the difference Action for Children services make to the lives and life chances of the most vulnerable and neglected children and young people across the UK.
• Evaluation of the Action for Children UK Neglect Project
  A four year (2008-2012) evaluation by the University of Salford of the Action for Children UK Neglect Project, which looks at the impact of interventions to improve outcomes for children.
  
  Read the executive summary

• Effective relationships with vulnerable parents to improve outcomes for children and young people - Study Report (2011)
  Research which articulates how Action for Children professionals develop effective relationships with vulnerable parents and how this makes a difference for children and young people.
  To view the Skills framework For developing effective relationships with vulnerable parents to improve outcomes for children and young people please click here
  To view the Organisational framework For developing effective relationships with vulnerable parents to improve outcomes for children and young people please click here

• A Voluntary and Community Sector Manifesto for London's Children and Young People
  A coalition of organisations' recommendations for improving outcomes for children and young people in London.

• Briefing: the social and economic value of short breaks
  A summary of findings of the research commissioned by Action for Children and the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign. You can also read the full report: The social and economic value of short breaks.

• Children with Disabilities Strategic Alliance: Manifesto
  The Manifesto of the Children with Disabilities Strategic Alliance, which brings together organisations from across the children's sector and the disability sector.

• Scottish Factfile
  Information and statistics to help inform key policy makers, agencies and organisations working with children, families and young people.

• Action for Children neglect intervention project
  A briefing about our the UK neglect intervention project we are developing to identify effective and timely interventions with children and families.

• Growing Up - Transition to a Successful Adulthood
  This report moves on from 'Stuck in the Middle' to look at the 16-25 age group; a time of tumultuous change and great challenges for all young people, made all the more difficult as a result of the severe downturn in global economic conditions
• Holding the Space: research update
  An update on our research with the University of Strathclyde and the Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care into finding new ways to support children and young people in residential care

• Preparing for the future: supporting children and young people who have been sexually abused
  A briefing on the external evaluation programme run by Canterbury Christchurch University, on Action for Children's child sexual abuse services.

• Action for Children's approach to working with fathers and male carers in our early years services
  How we work with fathers at this critical stage in their child's life.

• Digital Manifesto
  42 recommendations from the Children's Charities' Coalition on Internet Safety.

• Safe and secure
  A briefing about supporting children and young people who have been sexually abused.

• Happiness Counts
  A briefing about how investing in the wellbeing of children brings benefits to all.

• Briefing on the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill
  A briefing for MPs on the proposals set out in the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill.

• The transition to adulthood: keeping disabled young people at the centre
  How we think disabled young people and their families need to be supported through their transition from childhood to adulthood.

• Stuck in the Middle
  This report highlights the problems that vulnerable six to 13 year olds encounter, and calls on governments to help these young people by embracing our calls for change

• Youthbuild
  Information about our Youthbuild programme in Scotland that offers training and support for socially excluded young people who find it difficult to gain employment.

• Youth services: Scotland
  A briefing on what we want to see happen for young people in Scotland, based on our experience of working with vulnerable children and young people.

• Looked after children: Scotland
  A briefing on what we want to see happen for looked-after and accommodated children and young people in Scotland, based on our experience of working with vulnerable children and young people.

• Disabled children and young people: Scotland
  A briefing on what we want to see happen for disabled children and young people in Scotland, based on our experience.

• Family support: Scotland
  A briefing on what we want to see happen for supporting families in Scotland, based on our experience of working with the most vulnerable children and young people.

• Step inside our shoes: Young people's views on gun and knife crime
  As part of our Growing Strong campaign, we consulted children and young people on gun and knife crime - how they are affected by it, why they think it happens and what they think the solutions might be. We also carried out this research in Scotland - Step inside our shoes: Young people's views on gun and knife crime in Scotland

• Action for Children's short breaks services for disabled children
  This briefing paper looks at Action for Children's short break services for disabled children, young people and their families. It describes the importance of responsive, flexible, high-quality services and contains a number of case studies outlining the benefits of short breaks to the disabled child, their family and society.

• Supporting families - children on the edge of care
  Action for Children is committed to developing and delivering preventative services that allow children and young people to live safely within their own home. Our crisis intervention services, aimed at helping families with children at risk of entering the care system, have been judged a successful way to improve outcomes for children and young people, reducing admissions into care and building on families' strengths and coping techniques.

• Emotional wellbeing and social mobility - a new urgency to the debate
  Initial research for Action for Children shows that emotional wellbeing became 4.5 times more important as a factor determining social mobility for people born in 1970 compared to those born in 1958. Every indicator suggests it will be even more important for children born now.

• Action for Children Children's Centres - helping children and families in most need
  Children's Centres have the potential to give children the best start in life. Already, many Children's Centres are making a difference to the lives of children and families across England.

• Child poverty in Scotland
  A briefing about the House of Commons General Debate on child poverty in Scotland.

• Early years services and emotional wellbeing - what parents want
  Based on a report written for Action for Children by Brand Democracy, this briefing highlights some of the key issues to emerge from independent focus groups run with parents who have young children, and is supported by the results of a UK-wide survey of the general public. The briefing notes the importance parents place on emotional wellbeing in their children, and support for early years services like Sure Start Centres. The briefing also points to the need for a new language that connects with parents and the very real debate over the role of the state in bringing up children.

• A review of the promotion of children's emotional wellbeing by Action for Children services
  This briefing highlights the different ways in which Action for Children services are addressing the emotional wellbeing needs of young children. Drawing on examples from across the UK the briefing outlines key learning form Action for Children for all early years services.

• Young people in the workplace: Scotland
  A briefing for the Private Members' Debate on young people in the workplace

• Action for Children Scotland Manifesto
  Ten priorities for children and young people in Scotland.

• 10 steps to Growing Strong in Scotland
  A publication about how to make sure children in Scotland have the social skills, self-esteem and resilience to succeed in life - part of our Growing Strong campaign.

• National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy: Scotland
  A briefing on the Scottish Parliament debate on the National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy

• Young people growing strong: the role of positive, structured activities
  This briefing paper looks considers young people's emotional wellbeing and the role of structured positive activities.