LGA responds to Children's Society report on children's well-being

30 Aug 2018 09:28 AM

Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, Cllr Roy Perry, responds to The Children’s Society’s annual The Good Childhood Report 2018, which examines the state of children’s well-being in the UK.

“These alarming figures reinforce the urgent need to tackle the crisis in children’s mental health.

“This is why we are calling for councils and schools to be given the funding to offer independent mental health counselling so pupils have access to support as and when they need it.

“Councils across the country work hard to ensure children and young people can access the support they need, however with children’s services facing a £3 billion funding gap by 2025, this is getting increasingly difficult.  

“Many councils are being forced to cut early intervention work, including youth services, which helps children avoid reaching crisis point, perform better at school and avoid mental health issues in later life.

“Making sure children get the mental health support they need, when they need it, requires a root-and-branch overhaul of existing services. We need to develop a system that says yes, rather than no, to children when they ask for help.

“Government should also release the £1.7 billion promised for CAMHS services to ensure adequate and sustainable funding for local areas.”

Bright Futures

Helping children and young people to fulfil their potential is a key ambition of all councils, but our children’s services are under increasing pressure. 

Bright Futures is our call for fully funded children's services.

Find out more

View report:  The Good Childhood Report 2018