See the Child. Change the System

Growing up I was incredibly lucky to be loved and have a happy childhood. Sadly the same can’t be said for 1.5 Million Children in the UK who are neglected and abused. I am posting the picture below of myself as a child to support these children.

Shockingly the very system meant to protect these vulnerable children is failing them, it’s time to change this. Yesterday (24th June 2014) Kids Company launched the See the Child. Change the System campaign. This campaign is calling for a Task Force to Re-design Children’s Services for vulnerable children in the UK.

The Centre for Criminal Justice recently published the report “Enough is Enough”. “This report revealed revealed systemic failure, crisis and widespread despair from those working in the system, including, most worryingly, examples of illegality, unscrupulous practice, higher thresholds and children being deliberately kept out of social care. The report evidences staggering delays and shortfalls in the provision of care and support and indicates that the public statistics are not representative of the true scale of the numbers of children requiring support and protection. It reveals a growing group of children who are “struggling to receive the necessary care and support of statutory services” and “highlights concerns about the effectiveness of some social work services.” For too long vulnerable children have remained invisible and this report reminds us all of the suffering of children let down by society” (Taken from http://www.seethechild.org/find-out-more)

Exact figures for vulnerable children are not collated as doing so would mean that the local authorities have a legal responsibility to provide services for them. NSPCC in their report ” How safe are our children (2014) estimated the following figures for children in need :

Children negatively impacted by parental alcoholism range in numbers from 920,000 to 3.5million
Those impacted by parental mental health difficulties range from 50,000 to 2million
Children impacted by domestic violence are thought to be just under 1.8million
One in 20 children are believed to be sexually abused

Yet the figures below show the real realities of children in need in the UK.

3.5 million children in the UK are living in poverty (Barnados) ^[ii]
Almost 1.5 million children in the UK experience neglect (Action for Children) ^[iii]
16% of children aged under 16 experienced sexual abuse during childhood (NSPCC) ^[iv]
1 in 10 children and young people aged 5 – 16 suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder – that is around three children in every class (Young Minds) ^[v]
Over 500,000 children are referred to social services as a cause for concern on a yearly basis (NSPCC) ^[vi]
Of these, 43,140 were subject to a Child Protection Plan in England in 2012-13 (NSPCC) ^[vii]

Politicians say there are ‘no votes in vulnerable children’ but by signing this @KidsCompany petition at www.seethechild.org we are showing them we care and we demand change. Together we can See the Child. Change the System. #SEETHECHILD or Text I SEE to 63000