Last updated by charlotte.lang@essex.gov.uk on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
A child’s health, wellbeing and life chances are shaped by the circumstances of their birth and their early life experiences. In the UK today, around 4.2 million children are growing up in poverty, including 48% of children from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups.
At the same time, the mental health and wellbeing of many of the UK's children is in decline and the poorest 10% of children are nearly twice as likely to die before reaching adulthood as the most advantaged 10% of children (NSPCC).
Putting babies, children and young people at the heart of policy making could transform childhoods across the country.