National Children’s Bureau 24/25 review

The National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has had a successful year delivering impact through our programmes, sector convening and policy work. In this General Election year, we focused on informing political manifestos and policies for children and families, and built a strong working relationship with the newly-elected Government.

We organised a major event in Westminster attended by over 150 individuals, facilitating an exchange of ideas between young people, parents, and a panel representing all main political parties. The event was supported by the Children’s Commissioner and members of the Children’s Charities Coalition as a culmination of our ‘Children at the Table’ general election campaign.

Following their election, the new Government pledged to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. Consequently, in November 2024, NCB’s Health Policy Influencing Group published a roadmap for government, advocating for children’s rights in the forthcoming NHS Ten-Year Plan.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP), part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s A Better Start initiative. Led by NCB from its inception in 2014, LEAP reached over 4,450 under-fours in the area, significantly impacting local development, with 40% of these children more likely to achieve expected developmental milestones by age two and a half.

Amplifying the voices of children, young people, and families remains a core pillar of NCB’s mission. The Council for Disabled Children continued this emphasis on participation, organising the annual Youth Voice Matters conference in Manchester, in partnership with KIDS, as part of our Making Participation Work programme. Over 100 children and young people participated, helping design the event alongside our young SEND advisory group, known as FLARE.

Living Assessments, a five-year research collaboration with three groups of Experts by Experience, the University of Cambridge and University of Kent, analysed over 71,000 children’s health records. The findings, widely covered in national press, revealed that vulnerable children, despite being more susceptible to mental health issues, are often denied access to NHS Child and

Adolescent Mental Health Services. To celebrate the insights produced by Living Assessments, we hosted talks, discussions, and a theatre performance by young people with lived experiences of disability, social care, or insecure immigration status. NCB will use this research to drive policy and practice improvements.

The Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs, coordinated by NCB, have made significant strides this year. The 18 Hubs, two in each region of England, form a key component of the Government’s Best

Start in Life strategy, enhancing local early years settings by sharing best practices and providing evidence-informed professional development for hundreds of educators.

Our specialist family members also contributed to building brighter futures. The Anti-Bullying Alliance, supported by high-profile patrons like musician Woody from Bastille and Manchester City footballer Ruben Dias, held another successful Anti-Bullying Week, reaching over 7.5 million children and young people across 80% of schools.

The Childhood Bereavement Network conducted its annual Children’s Grief Awareness Week with the theme of Building Hope. Participants created face-to-face and virtual spaces to share inspirations and support. Engaging with Government departments and Parliamentary committees, the network championed the needs of bereaved children.

Research in Practice, our newest member, continued its integration into the NCB family, exemplified by launching the Working Together with Parents Network. This network supports practitioners working with parents with learning disabilities and their children, taking over from the University of Bristol.

Our progress is made possible by the contributions of Childlife supporters. Your donations allow us to address the adversities faced by many children and families. We extend our gratitude for your continued generosity, enabling us to build brighter futures.

Laurence is Head of Development at Childlife member charity, National Children’s Bureau.