4Children
4Children is delighted to support National Family Week and celebrate the role of families across the UK. National Family Week fits perfectly with our ethos of ensuring that families get the recognition and help they deserves to flourish.
Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive
Website: www.4children.org.uk
4Children's vision
4Children is the national charity all about children and families. We develop, influence and shape national policy on all aspects of children, young people and families lives and works with a wide range of partners to deliver real support for children and families in their community. We aspire to ensure that all children, young people and families have access to a creative, safe and child focused environment, and positive activities. Every child in every community should have the chance to achieve their full potential and every parent should be supported to build a better future for their family.
What we do
4Children has spearheaded a joined up, integrated approach to children’s services which puts the needs of the most vulnerable at the centre. It is the one of the largest not for profit Children’s Centre providers in the country and also runs and supports out of school programmes and the new next generation ‘myplace’ youth hubs.
4Children has a proven track record in shaping the debate on crucial issues for children and families. We lobby and persuade at every level - Government, local authorities, business, the media and wider society - arguing for radical solutions to meet the needs of modern family life.
Our trailblazing Children’s Centres offer a full range of support for 0-19s and their families. We believe children and families should be at the heart of our society and actively involved in shaping the decisions about the services they need.
We also provide practical information, advice and support to parents, employers, local authorities and the children's and youth services workforce through our Information Helpline, publications, website and national conferences and events. Call 020 7512 2100 or visit our website to find out more.
The Family Commission
4Children has just completed a national 18 month inquiry into family life in the UK, chaired by Esther Rantzen CBE. As part of the inquiry, the charity consulted with 10,000 families across the country about their fears and ambitions for the future.
The final report ‘Starting a Family Revolution’ was published in October 2010 and details how the current system isn’t working for families. Families are worried about their children’s future and cuts to vital public services and their family finances. The report graphically highlighted how families find public services over-bureaucratic and inflexible; how families have to jump through hoops and fall through cracks before getting the help they need and how the reality of modern family life is misunderstood by services and professionals.
The recommendations in the report create a blueprint for change to help all families flourish – during good times and bad. They include:
• A ‘Family Test’ against which to judge the policies of local and national Government
• Help and support for families as children grow up - all Children’s Centres extending their support to become Children and Family Centres
• Help for families to shape their own solutions – for example Family Group Conferences which recognise that families, including the extended family, are assets to be drawn upon
• Help to resolve crisis and prevent children being taken into care – with more Family Intervention Projects
• A ‘Family First’ approach – recognising the importance of family
For more information about the Family Commission and to read the Report visit www.thefamilycommission.org.uk