Commenting on a new report from children's charities on funding for children's services, Nigel Minns, Chair of the ADCS Health, Care and Additional Needs Policy Committee, said:

“This research includes important messages for the government and Treasury ahead of the October Budget. The Prime Minister was clear that ‘tough decisions’ will have to be made in next month’s budget, but children must not feel the brunt of this.

“Local authorities want to work with children and their families at the earliest opportunity, to tackle the root causes of the challenges they face before they reach crisis point. However, we need central government’s support to enable us to work in this way. There is simply not enough funding in the system to meet the level and complexity of need evident in our communities, whilst also investing in early intervention and prevention.  The financial pressures we are facing in relation to the cost of children’s homes is unlike anything we have experienced before, and they require urgent government intervention. A child poverty and children’s mental health crisis is further increasing need for our help and support, and so we need to see government action on these issues too.

“ADCS continues to call for sufficient and sustainable multi-year funding settlement for children’s services that enables us to invest properly in children’s futures, including in the provision of early help. This Budget should send a clear message to children that they and their families matter to this government.”

ENDS