Children and Recession – report from APPG for Children

Summary

Summary

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Children chose Children and the Recession as its theme for the 2010-2012 extended parliamentary year and reported back on the impact of the recession on children and how services are responding, including discussing examples of green shoots and innovative approaches being taken by service providers.

Children and the Recession gives a useful overview for members, officers and partners working in children’s services and education, health, housing and some other policy areas.

The APPG defined recession as ‘an extended period of economic downturn’ although it also discussed cuts in spending on children’s services. It held a number of sessions to gather evidence and heard that there was a danger that the recession would adversely impact on children. However, evidence was also received about innovation and ‘green shoots’ in children’s services.

The all party group also noted that professionals and others giving evidence thought it was important that there was an emphasis on early intervention and joined up working and that children and young people’s views were taken into account.

The APPG held 10 inquiry sessions gathering evidence from young people, a range of professionals from the children’s sector, Children’s Minister Tim Loughton, MPs, local authorities, the voluntary sector and researchers.

For more details about the APPG for Children see their website:

http://www.ncb.org.uk/policy-evidence/policy/all-party-parliamentary-group