At Catch22 we believe that politicians should recognise the needs of children and young people. We know that when children have good people around them, a good place to live and a purpose – they are able to thrive.
We are joining over 140 organisations in a call to all political parties to put children and young people at the heart of this General Election. This open letter calls for politicians to address the needs of our youngest citizens and set out how they will prioritise them in the next Parliament. Catch22’s Director of Young People and Families, Kate Wareham, signed the open letter on behalf of Catch22.
Published by National Children’s Bureau, Catch22 and organisations including The Children’s Society, Barnardos, NSPCC and Action for Children ask that all political leaders are to set out their solutions to the pressing issues facing children and young people, including child poverty, mental health, domestic abuse and serious youth violence.
Kate Wareham, Director of Young People and Families at Catch22, said:
“Investing in children and young people makes economic and moral sense. In particular, there must be a focus on preventative services. We work with hundreds of families and young people who are at risk of moving into a crisis situation – but with some targeted support the crises can be prevented. It’s also vital that particularly vulnerable children and young people – such as those who are leaving care – are not forgotten, and that local authorities are properly funded to provide services for these groups.
“This joint call from leading children’s charities is powerful and politicians should not ignore it. If we can give children the best possible start in life, and intervene before a crisis strikes, it will benefit not only the individuals involved but the whole population.”