Alliance for Investing in Children

The Alliance for Investing in Children (UK) is a project led by Children in Wales working in partnership with Children in Scotland, Children England and Children in Northern Ireland. All these platforms
have multi-sectorial membership. Publically launched at the Children in Scotland conference in Edinburgh in June, the UK Alliance is part of a wider Joint Action led by the EU Alliance for Investing in Children coalition.

The aim of this website and that of the Joint Action is ‘to ensure effective implementation of the European Commission Recommendation ‘Investing in Children-Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage’ by facilitating stakeholder cooperation at EU and national level and support effective advocacy and communication activities’.

The Recommendation provides helpful guidance to all European Member States on how to tackle child poverty and promote children’s well-being.  It advocates for the best interests of the child, equal opportunities and support for the most disadvantaged whilst ensuring quality universal provisions for all, at the centre of efforts to combat child poverty.

The Joint Action is expected to contribute to three broad political objectives

1. To secure and retain political will to fight child poverty and promote child well-being
2. To trigger and support reform in policies and practice based on what we know works best for children
3. To strengthen meaningful engagement of relevant stakeholders in decision-making on public policy and resource allocation for children

The UK Alliance programme of activities is to include –

1. Develop a UK Alliance through building on existing cooperation structures
2. Identify opportunities and plan activities which can be delivered across the 4 nations (UK wide) under the UK Alliance banner
3. A national event to take place at the end of the year (2014)
4. Carry out engagement with children and young people

The UK Alliance will be carrying out a number of activities in support of the campaign over the remainder of 2014 and will be looking to use opportunities from the EU (Europe 2020; European Semester, Structural Funds) to promote investment in children.   We are asking politicians, stakeholder organisations and the general public to commit to supporting this campaign which will culminate in a high level conference in December 2014

Investing in Children makes social and economic sense.  By prioritising children and young people in all our actions, we are not only delivering on a commitment to support those who are being hardest hit by the crisis, but also making best use of our limited resources and delivering savings in the long term.   Early intervention and prevention saves money, protects children and rewards society.