Our representation to the 2025 Spending Review highlights a number of critical areas for investment, focusing on the urgent need to shift from crisis-driven interventions to proactive, preventative support for children, young people, and families.
Currently, funding is heavily weighted toward high-cost, late-stage interventions. While these services are vital for safeguarding and addressing immediate risks, an over-reliance on crisis responses places a growing long-term strain on public resources and limits opportunities to improve outcomes earlier. Years of underfunding in children’s services have entrenched a vicious cycle, where the escalating demand for urgent care restricts the capacity for early support.
To break this cycle, specific and targeted additional investment in early intervention and prevention is essential. By strategically investing in early intervention and prevention, the government can achieve better outcomes for children and families, and realise substantial cost-savings for the taxpayer – in many cases from in-year savings.
Importantly, this approach must complement, not replace, the funding of urgent safeguarding and care services, ensuring that immediate needs continue to be met while building a more sustainable system for the future.
At present, too many children and families are failed, receiving support only when they reach a crisis point. Our response outlines specific, evidence-based early interventions across several key areas that will reduce demand for costly crisis interventions, and unlock significant savings to the public purse.