In the Autumn Statement, we are urging the Chancellor to provide the funding that children’s social care desperately needs and stabilise the children’s social care system before it is pushed to the brink.
Rt. Hon Jeremy Hunt MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
CC: David Johnston MP, Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Department for Education.
CC: Simon Hoare MP, Minister for Local Government and Building Safety, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Dear Chancellor,
Supporting children, young people and their families is one of the greatest responsibilities we have as a society, and we know your government has the ambition of making sure our youngest citizens are safe, happy and healthy with the very best start in life.
However, the council services that perform this vital role face unprecedented pressures, due to a perfect storm of significant financial challenges and record numbers of children needing help.
More and more of council budgets now cover the rising cost of children’s social care. Despite a 27 per cent real-terms reduction in core spending power for councils since 2010/11, children’s social care budgets increased by £1.5 billion in the last year alone as councils fight to ensure children are kept safe.
Yet most of this goes towards supporting children at the highest risk, meaning there is not enough to intervene early and provide that lifeline of support for children and families when they first need help. They shouldn’t have to wait until things get worse.
There is good evidence available for programmes that – with the right investment – can help support children earlier, keep families safely together and ensure stable homes for children in care.
In the Autumn Statement, we are urging you to provide the funding that children’s social care desperately needs and stabilise the children’s social care system before it is pushed to the brink.
Without this, there is a genuine fear that councils will not be able to provide the critical care and support that children rely on every day.
Yours sincerely,
