News

“Childhood obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges we face and these figures are yet another sad indictment of how we have collectively failed as a society to tackle it"

Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, responds to the National Deaf Children’s Society report on councils providing radio aids for children.

"significant increases in demand for child protection services, alongside funding cuts from central government, mean that children’s services face a £3.1 billion funding gap by 2025.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to the Public Health England announcement that the HPV vaccine will be extended to boys from this September.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, responds to The Children’s Society report on exploitation of children through ‘county lines’ drug dealing operations.

“Early intervention services such as children’s centres and family support services play a crucial role in supporting children and helping to prevent problems becoming more serious later on."

“Councils have pulled out all the stops to protect children’s budgets but are now being forced to cut funding for vital services such as early intervention support, leaving some children having to reach crisis point before they get help."

“We have particular concerns around provision for disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs and disabilities if funding rates continue to fall below the cost of delivering services."

“The Government needs to act fast and work with councils if they are to boost the number of apprenticeships and drive local economic growth."

Councils face an £8 billion funding gap by 2025, while an additional £1.6 billion is required in high needs funding by 2021. It is essential that Government uses the forthcoming Spending Review to address these shortfalls, and to ensure schools are adequately funded to support all children to achieve their ambitions.”