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  • • Nearly half of children in care have a mental health disorder
  • • 4.3 million children in the UK are living in poverty
  • • Nearly half of children in care have a mental health disorder
  • • 1.4 million children & young people have a probable mental health disorder
  • • 1 in 5 babies aren’t receiving their entitled health visiting check at one year old
 

Reacting to today’s King’s Speech, the Children’s Charities Coalition – Action for Children, Barnardo’s, National Children’s Bureau, NSPCC, The Children’s Society – said:

“We welcome the measures aimed at improving the lives of babies, children and young people and the introduction of a Children’s Wellbeing Bill. However, with 4.3 million children now living in poverty, it is disappointing that the Government hasn’t taken the first opportunity to commit to a new Child Poverty Bill. We have also seen the devastating impact the two-child limit has on families and call again for it be scrapped. Doing so would lift 300,000 children out of poverty.1

“Children and young people also need measures to reform children’s social care. Our most vulnerable children rely on the system, but there is a lack of early help for families, rising numbers of children are going into foster care and residential care2, and too many young people leaving the system are not benefiting from education, employment and training. Reform and a commitment to long term funding are urgently needed.

“We look forward to working with the new Government and encourage the Prime Minister to become a champion for babies, children and young people, to listen to their voice and to take more ambitious action to secure their futures.”

ENDS

 

MEDIA CONTACT

Arron Williamson, Media Officer, Action for Children – 07718 244 125 / arron.williamson@actionforchildren.org.uk

Out of hours 020 3124 0661 / mediateam@actionforchildren.org.uk

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

1 New DWP statistics: 1 in 9 children now hit by two-child limit | CPAG

2 Children looked after in England including adoptions, Reporting year 2023 (explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk)