Barnardo’s urges Rishi Sunak to urgently put children at the heart of the new Government

Barnardo's CEO Lynn Perry MBE said:    

“Over recent weeks and months, the situations facing vulnerable children, young people and families have grown more precarious.  

“More than one in four children in the UK are living in poverty, with millions at risk of going hungry this winter. Recent YouGov research for Barnardo’s found that more than half of families with children aged 18 or under are having to reduce their spending on food just to make ends meet.  

“In this context, we are calling on the new Prime Minister to act urgently to introduce free school meals for all primary school children in England, so that every child has at least one hot and healthy meal a day. 

“Even before we were facing such acute economic challenges, there was a crisis in our children’s social care system, with more and more children being placed in local authority care, and too many families reaching breaking point before receiving help.  
“As a first step in addressing this, the Government must meet its December commitment to respond to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care. The children and young people we support have waited long enough for change. They need the new Prime Minister to invest in vital services to deliver the care and support they need to work towards a positive future.  

“With one in six children now thought to have a diagnosable mental health condition, and many others struggling with anxiety and stress, recent research for Barnardo’s suggests that the ongoing mental health crisis amongst children and young people is having a tangible and negative impact on academic performance. Children desperately need specialist support to thrive in the classroom, which is why we are calling on the Government to introduce Mental Health Support Teams in all schools in England without delay.   

“Meanwhile, children as young as seven are being exposed to harmful content online, including: grooming, cyber-bullying and pornography. Not only does this contribute to poor mental health, but it also poses a very real and serious threat to their understanding of consent and the development of healthy relationships. The Online Safety Bill must be prioritised, so such dangerous content is no longer just a click away. 

“We sincerely hope that the new Prime Minister will put children at the heart of the new Government and act urgently to protect our most vulnerable young people and their families.”