In brief
- Covid-19 has affected all children, but not all children have been affected equally. For the hundreds of thousands who were already at increased risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation, the pandemic has dealt a crushing blow.
- With less money for early intervention, and more and more children moving into care, local authorities are being challenged to think creatively about how to continue delivering the incredibly important work they do.
- While children’s services undoubtedly need increased, predictable and long-term funding, a new approach is also urgently needed. One that places children’s rights at the forefront of all local policies, services and decisions – so that even in the most challenging of times, a child’s best interests always come first.