News

Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, Cllr Roy Perry, responds to The Children’s Society’s annual Good Childhood Report, which examines the state of children’s well-being in the UK.

“Councils’ youth offending teams have an exceptional record of reducing youth crime and making a real difference to young people’s lives, but they are under huge pressure after seeing their government funding halved over the last decade."

“This report highlights the multiple factors that impact on children’s health and wellbeing, and demonstrates the importance of all agencies at local and national level considering how their policies and practice will impact on young people."

“The pandemic has exacerbated existing mental health problems, particularly for children living in families with lower incomes and whose parents may be experiencing financial difficulties.”

“As the impact of the coronavirus pandemic becomes apparent, more children, young people and their families are likely to need support."

Cllr Nesil Caliskan, Chair of the Local Government Association's Safer and Stronger Communities Board, responds to the Children’s Commissioner’s report that looks at how effectively existing infrastructure within local authorities is being used to deliver a public health approach to preventing gang involvement and youth violence.

"Vulnerable groups unable to complete the EU Settlement Scheme may be given some flexibility and it will be important to identify well in advance those who may need support to access the scheme after the deadline."

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s People and Places Board, responds to the report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development into employers’ under-investment in training.

“We are pleased that the Government’s strategy has placed youth services back on the agenda, and we look forward to working with them on the review of youth services guidance in light of the increasingly challenging context that councils are working in."

“We urge the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care to consider these recommendations in their final report and are keen to work with the Government to ensure that children can live in the homes that best suit their needs and where they can thrive.”