Fall in funding threatens children's rights, report warns

The State of Children’s Rights in England report by the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (Crae) shows that cuts to local authority budgets are leaving children and their families without access to vital support services.

The report, based on a series of Freedom of Information requests, has been published on the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

It shows that investment in early intervention services has been steadily scaled back since 2011/12 despite a 35 per cent rise in the number of children with child protection needs since 2009/10.

The report also shows that local authority youth service budgets have been cut by 35 per cent since 2008/09, while spending on play services has been reduced by 54 per cent over the same period.

According to the report, children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities are left particularly vulnerable when services are cut.

The data shows that less than six per cent of disabled children are accessing youth services, while those with SEN account for 62 per cent of children excluded from school in 2012/13.

Paola Uccellari, director of Crae, said that funding cuts pose a serious threat to children’s basic right to a good start in life.

“Services which make sure children’s human rights are met – which support families, provide childcare, play schemes and youth groups – aren’t a luxury,” she said.

“They are essential to giving children a good start in life, to children’s ability to develop confidence and resilience and even to keeping children safe and well.

“Cutting these services is short-sighted, it will have a long-term impact on children and society.”

Sir Tony Hawkhead, chief executive of Action for Children, said not being able to access early intervention services could leave children more vulnerable to abuse.

He said: “Sadly neglect remains the most frequent reason for a child protection referral to social services and is the major feature of serious case reviews into the death or serious injury of a child.

“The tragedy is that neglect can be stopped in its tracks if the right support to help parents improve their parenting skills had been in place at an early stage.”