Comment on Spring Budget 2021

Responding to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spring Budget announcement Jenny Coles, ADCS President, said:

“Today’s Budget announcement will provide some much needed relief for some of those families that have been impacted hardest by the pandemic. It is right that the £20 uplift to Universal Credit will continue for a further six months and we welcome extra funding for programmes supporting victims of domestic violence. However, it is deeply disappointing that the Chancellor was silent on the rising pressures in children’s services, or even any of our public services. The difficulties that local authorities and frontline workers face will continue beyond the next six months and the government needs to do all it can to back these vital services.

“Since 2010, funding for local authorities has been halved while need has risen, even before the pandemic first hit. More families that did not previously rely on our services are now needing our support and we are only just seeing some of the long-term impacts of the pandemic on vulnerable children and families. We must do what is right for these children by being able to invest in early help services and meeting their needs before they escalate.

“If this government is truly serious about ‘levelling up’ then greater focus and prioritisation needs to be given to children and their families, particularly the most vulnerable. Our peak in activity is yet to arrive, but when it does we must be fully resourced so that all children receive the support they deserve.”

ENDS

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