Charity chiefs make historic joint call for early intervention at CYP Now conference

The unprecedented campaign – backed by Action for Children, Barnardo’s, The Children’s Society, NSPCC and Save the Children – wants the next government to pledge to invest more in early support for children, young people and their families to prevent problems reaching crisis.

Launched at the Children & Young People Now Early Intervention conference in London today, the campaign is backed by polling that shows that three-quarters of the general public support greater investment in early support services for children.

The charities have joined forces to campaign on early intervention at a time when families’ lives are becoming more difficult following benefit changes and rises in the cost of living. They say that by the time of next year’s general election, 365,000 children will be living in families facing five or more serious issues.

In addition, a Populus survey of 2,000 adults carried out for the campaign found a quarter expect life for the most disadvantaged in society to get tougher over the next five years, while half predict it to get no better.

Sir Tony Hawkhead, chief executive of Action for Children, said: “Waiting too long to help children and families in need has a dire human cost and sentences them to a bleak future.