In the House of Commons today the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Budget he says will get the country through the pandemic and beyond.
In response, Barnardo's Chief Executive Javed Khan said: “We welcome a number of measures outlined in today’s Budget, including the much needed extra funding for domestic abuse services, investments in apprenticeships, support for the Kickstart programme and the wider focus on jobs.
"Families we support are struggling to afford food, heating and vital data so they can do their schoolwork, so it is particularly welcome that the £20 a week uplift in Universal Credit has been extended.
“Children have suffered hugely throughout the pandemic, especially those who were already vulnerable – with a growing crisis in mental health and increased risk of harm and abuse. Even more challenges will come to light once children return to school, risking an explosion in referrals.
“We urgently need investment in support for these children to prevent long-term harm, and we must put children at the heart of Government plans.
"Even before the pandemic hit, investment in vital early help had fallen by £1.6 billion over the last ten years, and yet more and more children are coming into care. To address this we need strategic, multi-year funding to accompany the Government’s reviews of early years and children’s social care, and to give vulnerable children the best possible chance of a positive future."