Barnardo's Responds to England Children's Commissioner
On response to the England Children's Commissioner calling on every Government department to “constantly push” to improve the lives of children to ensure they do not become the “lost generation”, Barnardo's CEO Javed Khan says:
“The Children’s Commissioner is right to say that children should be top of the Government’s agenda. Children and young people have been hidden victims of the pandemic – from the crisis in mental health, to the risk of harm at home, online and in the community, to the growing education gap for the most vulnerable.
“It’s also right to call for a 10-year plan, as these challenges cannot be fixed overnight.
“However, to achieve real change, this plan must be accompanied by multi-year funding. It also requires a new approach to partnership working, with national and local government, schools, police and charities all working interpedently, because the challenges faced by vulnerable children are too complex for any one agency to solve alone.
“To make sure children’s interests are at the top of the list, we also need a Cabinet-level Minister for Children and Young People to lead a joined-up strategy that puts young people at the heart of decision making, as we move beyond the pandemic.”