Cross-government strategy needed for young people

The Local Government Association has urged for a cross-government strategy for children and young people to ensure they are at the heart of the national recovery.

Since the start of the pandemic, children and young people have made huge sacrifices after experiencing major disruption to their education and losing out on time with their friends and wider family. This is addition to many teenagers having missed out on their exams, jobs and traditional rites of passage.

As a result, not only are young people having to cope with significant social and educational challenges, they are also struggling with their mental health in increasing numbers, and some have had to live in homes with domestic abuse taking place. Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have been particularly affected by repeated lockdowns and school disruption during the pandemic.

The LGA argues that the pandemic is a crucial opportunity for national and local government to work more closely together to achieve shared goals for the national recovery. It has raised concerns over instances where government departments have not aligned their objectives, such as with their child-focused campaigns which has left councils unclear which campaign to prioritise or how they supported each other, which ultimately risks not delivering better outcomes for children, young people and families.

Its new policy paper, A Child Centred Recovery, calls for a cross-Whitehall strategy that puts children and young people at the heart of recovery, to ensure every child can recover lost learning and life experiences, with local safety nets properly resourced and well organised. A child-centred recovery shouldn’t focus solely on education and children’s services, but also good quality affordable homes, space to play, access to libraries, clean air and safe streets.

The LGA is calling for the government’s £500 million Youth Investment Fund – first promised in September 2019 - to be made available as soon as possible and for all local councils to have enough funding to ensure youth services are available for young people. It is also calling on government to restore £1.7 billion in lost Early Intervention Grant funding to councils to help reinstate some lost services which can help all children, young people and families to thrive.

Anntoinette Bramble, chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “Our young people will feel the impact of the pandemic for many years to come and it will be more important than ever to make sure that the right approaches are taken to help families. A cross-Whitehall strategy is needed that puts children and young people at the heart of recovery and ensures the services that support children and their families are fully funded so the younger generation can lead more enriched and fulfilling lives as we emerge from the pandemic.

“We want to work with government to ‘Build back local’ and help give all children a great childhood and help families to thrive, rather than struggle. This means developing a strategy which will focus on how we can level up for the next generation and ensure young people get the best opportunities, no matter where they are from.”