Rachel Reeves MP at a visit with young people supported by Barnardo's

Our policy work

We bring about change to make children and young people's lives better

We push to improve practice, policies, and systems so that they really work for all children and young people.

Nobody knows better than children and young people what their lives are really like. That’s why we're committed to supporting young people to share their experiences and insights about the laws, policies, practices, and systems that affect them. We amplify their voices in our research and influencing work with decision-makers across the UK to help change children’s lives and the systems around them for the better.  

Find out about our recent policy work across the UK

This year, we supported young people to call on the new Prime Minister to be a champion for babies, children, and young people, and to put them at the heart of Government as part of the Children at the Table campaign alongside Action for Children, National Children’s Bureau, NSPCC, and The Children’s Society. 
 
We have also called on the new Government to tackle child poverty by ending the two-child limit and welcome the new Ministerial Taskforce to address the child poverty emergency.  

In Scotland, ahead of the Scottish Parliament Election 2026 we published our manifesto which sets out practical asks on a range of issues from family support, to tackling child poverty and improving health and wellbeing that are designed to improve access to support for families who need it most.

We also engaged with MSPs on the Children’s Care and Justice Bill which passed and is now an Act. This legislation will make important improvements to the care and involvement of children in the criminal justice system, alongside ending the imprisonment of 16- and 17-year-olds in Scotland.

In Northern Ireland, we convened the ‘Reimagine’ coalition of nine children’s charities who came together to collectively respond to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Services.

Their report was launched at an event held at Stormont which attracted strong cross-party support by MLAs.  

In Cymru, we published our manifesto for the 2026 Senedd elections which outlines a set of commitments we are urging all political parties to adopt. Highlights include a call for the introduction of a Welsh Child Payment, which research shows would have a significant impact on child poverty in Wales, alongside making a firm commitment to families by investing in the services that they need.

Read our latest reports

  • Barnardo’s Cymru manifesto for the 2026 Senedd elections

    The 2026 Senedd election comes at a pivotal time for babies, children, and young people in Wales. Having faced many challenges in recent years, children and their families remain positive about their future and want to see a government that can match their enthusiasm and passion for what their lives could be. 

    Parliamentary briefing
    Child poverty and inequality Family support

View more reports

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Our latest news

Read our latest updates on how we’re supporting children, young people and families across the UK.  

Get involved with our campaigns

Learn about our campaigns and how you can get involved in helping change laws, policies, and practices that don’t work for children and young people. 

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We’re building a movement to change childhoods and change lives in the UK – are you with us? Sign up to hear how you can change a child's life and keep up with our latest work. 

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