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Why children must be at the heart of the next Government

Wednesday 22 May 2024
Group of children sitting and smiling fun

The Government has called a General Election for 4 July. Last year, Action for Children joined with four of the UK's leading children's charities to speak together with one voice.

We have partnered with Barnardo’s, the National Children’s Bureau, NSPCC, and The Children’s Society. Our goal is to call on the government to ensure that "children growing up in the UK today and tomorrow are safer, happier, healthier, and have more equal access to opportunities."

Children at the Table

A roadmap for putting children at the heart of the next Government

Read the report (opens in a new tab)

Why are we calling for this?

We are very concerned that for too long, children (including babies) and young people have not been a priority for the government, or for political parties generally.

The cost of living crisis, the economy, immigration, housing, and the NHS are all top of MPs’ agendas, according to nfp Research. But the issues that face children and young people today are not priorities for decision makers. These are issues like:

  • Poverty
  • The increasing number of children being taken into care
  • School absence
  • A growing mental health crisis
  • Online and offline abuse and exploitation

These are all things that we think should be a priority.

Are you an MP who would like to join the campaign?

Email us

Boy looking into the camera holding a teddy bear

What are we doing?

At Action for Children, we understand the lasting impact of these issues. Our services across the UK experience them every day.

With our partners in the coalition, we commissioned research showing that delaying the national reform process for children’s social care will cost taxpayers billions in the long run. It will also lead to thousands more children and families reaching crisis point.

If you are an MP or decision maker who would like to support this campaign, or if you have any questions, please contact our Public Affairs Manager, [email protected]

Learn more about Children at the Table
Children at the Table (opens in a new tab)

Our report

We have brought all of our evidence together in a new report, Children at the Table, released November 2023.

The report sets out the roadmap to a better future for babies, children and young people.

In the report, we invite the main political parties to commit to a personal pledge made by the next Prime Minister and Chancellor to:

  • Be champions for children.
  • To put them at the heart of their next Government.
  • To invest more of our national wealth in improving their lives.

Specifically, our coalition is calling for children to be ‘at the table’, which means the next government must:

  • Commit to an ambitious cross-government strategy and outcomes framework to drive improvements for babies, children, and young people.
  • Show a new approach to decision-making that places children’s needs, wishes, and outcomes at its heart and involves children and young people every step of the way.
  • Invest more of our national wealth in improving the lives of babies, children, and young people and spend strategically on early intervention and prevention.
Happy mother hugging her small son at home, while boy is looking at camera

We believe every child, regardless of their background, their parents’ or carers’ income, or their postcode, deserves the best possible start. That they deserve the support to thrive and achieve equal outcomes.

With commitment from the very top of government, we can shift the dial from crisis interventions to ensuring childhoods are happier, healthier, and free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

We stand ready to work with the next UK government, devolved Governments, all politicians, the voluntary and community sector, academics, and health care professionals to give children a seat at the table and transform childhoods for future generations.

If you are an MP or decision maker who would like to support this campaign, or if you have any questions, please contact our Public Affairs Manager at [email protected].

Children at the Table

A roadmap for putting children at the heart of the next Government

Read the report (opens in a new tab)

Let's put children at the heart of the next government

Read the report (opens in a new tab)