1
00:00:03,070 --> 00:00:06,039
INTRO: Welcome to the NSPCC Learning Podcast, where

2
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,979
INTRO: we share learning and expertise in child protection

3
00:00:08,980 --> 00:00:12,249
INTRO: from inside and outside of the organisation.

4
00:00:12,250 --> 00:00:15,159
INTRO: We aim to create debate, encourage reflection

5
00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,589
INTRO: and share good practice on how we can all work

6
00:00:17,590 --> 00:00:20,859
INTRO: together to keep babies, children and young people

7
00:00:20,860 --> 00:00:21,860
INTRO: safe.

8
00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,249
PRODUCER: Welcome to the NSPCC Learning Podcast.

9
00:00:27,250 --> 00:00:29,619
PRODUCER: This episode features an interview with Anne

10
00:00:29,620 --> 00:00:32,205
PRODUCER: Longfield, the Executive Chair of the Centre for

11
00:00:32,206 --> 00:00:34,119
PRODUCER: Young Lives and Children's Commissioner for

12
00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,719
PRODUCER: England from 2015 to 2021.

13
00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,149
PRODUCER: Earlier this year Anne published 'Young Lives,

14
00:00:40,150 --> 00:00:42,759
PRODUCER: Big Ambitions', a new book which examines the

15
00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,159
PRODUCER: problems facing vulnerable young people in the

16
00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:48,099
PRODUCER: UK. You can find out more about the book on

17
00:00:48,100 --> 00:00:50,530
PRODUCER: the NSPCC Library online catalogue.

18
00:00:51,620 --> 00:00:54,116
PRODUCER: In this interview, recorded in June 2024, Anne

19
00:00:55,220 --> 00:00:57,319
PRODUCER: shares her thoughts on what needs to be done to

20
00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,539
PRODUCER: improve the safeguarding support available to

21
00:00:59,540 --> 00:01:02,929
PRODUCER: teenagers across the UK, including implementing

22
00:01:02,930 --> 00:01:05,119
PRODUCER: a more joined-up approach to recognising the

23
00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,149
PRODUCER: risks that teenagers face and providing better

24
00:01:08,150 --> 00:01:10,429
PRODUCER: access to early intervention and youth work

25
00:01:10,430 --> 00:01:11,430
PRODUCER: services.

26
00:01:16,860 --> 00:01:19,259
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: My name's Wesley Powley-Baker and I

27
00:01:19,260 --> 00:01:21,449
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: work at the NSPCC as a Safeguarding

28
00:01:21,450 --> 00:01:23,579
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Manager in the Safeguarding Unit, and

29
00:01:23,580 --> 00:01:24,989
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: today we're really pleased to have

30
00:01:24,990 --> 00:01:26,527
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Anne Longfield for today's podcast.

31
00:01:26,528 --> 00:01:28,379
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: In the main, we're going to be

32
00:01:28,380 --> 00:01:30,599
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: talking about Anne's recent book that

33
00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:31,979
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: she's just published called 'Young

34
00:01:31,980 --> 00:01:34,019
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Lives, Big Ambitions'.

35
00:01:34,020 --> 00:01:35,549
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Just a bit of background on Anne:

36
00:01:35,550 --> 00:01:37,079
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Anne was the Children's Commissioner

37
00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,919
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: for England from 2015 to 2021

38
00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:42,809
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: and is now chair of the Commission on

39
00:01:42,810 --> 00:01:44,789
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Young Lives. She spent the last three

40
00:01:44,790 --> 00:01:46,589
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: decades working to improve the lives

41
00:01:46,590 --> 00:01:47,766
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: of the most vulnerable children and

42
00:01:48,750 --> 00:01:50,099
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: earlier this year, as I've said, she's

43
00:01:50,100 --> 00:01:51,809
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: published a book, 'Young Lives, Big

44
00:01:51,810 --> 00:01:53,849
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Ambitions', which explores how

45
00:01:53,850 --> 00:01:56,129
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: vulnerable children and teens are

46
00:01:56,130 --> 00:01:58,049
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: being let down by the system that

47
00:01:58,050 --> 00:01:59,819
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: exists to protect them, presenting

48
00:01:59,820 --> 00:02:02,429
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: solutions to give every young person

49
00:02:02,430 --> 00:02:04,589
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: the best chance to succeed in life.

50
00:02:04,590 --> 00:02:06,359
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: So, Anne, thank you for joining us.

51
00:02:07,439 --> 00:02:08,610
ANNE LONGFIELD: Pleasure. Thank you so much.

52
00:02:09,749 --> 00:02:11,099
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: The first question I'd like to ask,

53
00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:12,479
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: and I'm sure our audience would be

54
00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:14,999
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: really interested in this, is what

55
00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:16,679
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: was the journey that led to the

56
00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:18,599
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: writing of this book for you?

57
00:02:19,970 --> 00:02:21,439
ANNE LONGFIELD: Well, quite a long one.

58
00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:23,449
ANNE LONGFIELD: You've just mentioned three decades there,

59
00:02:23,450 --> 00:02:25,999
ANNE LONGFIELD: and there's even a little bit more than

60
00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,479
ANNE LONGFIELD: that. But, essentially, over the years,

61
00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,299
ANNE LONGFIELD: all of my work has been about improving

62
00:02:32,300 --> 00:02:35,239
ANNE LONGFIELD: outcomes, improving the law, improving

63
00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,519
ANNE LONGFIELD: our offerings, if you like, as a country,

64
00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,609
ANNE LONGFIELD: as a society for children, but especially

65
00:02:40,610 --> 00:02:42,169
ANNE LONGFIELD: vulnerable children.

66
00:02:42,170 --> 00:02:45,559
ANNE LONGFIELD: From the early days of my work in

67
00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,829
ANNE LONGFIELD: areas of London and then in other areas

68
00:02:48,830 --> 00:02:50,749
ANNE LONGFIELD: around the country, it was very clear to

69
00:02:50,750 --> 00:02:53,629
ANNE LONGFIELD: me that there was a significant number of

70
00:02:53,630 --> 00:02:56,359
ANNE LONGFIELD: children who had a mountain to climb as

71
00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,819
ANNE LONGFIELD: they grew up compared to other children,

72
00:02:58,820 --> 00:03:02,209
ANNE LONGFIELD: and that so often they were

73
00:03:02,210 --> 00:03:03,769
ANNE LONGFIELD: left without help.

74
00:03:03,770 --> 00:03:07,039
ANNE LONGFIELD: They were marginalised

75
00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:10,039
ANNE LONGFIELD: until the point where the problem became

76
00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,129
ANNE LONGFIELD: a crisis and intervention was needed.

77
00:03:13,130 --> 00:03:15,499
ANNE LONGFIELD: And so often their life chances and

78
00:03:15,500 --> 00:03:18,289
ANNE LONGFIELD: expectations were massively diminished as

79
00:03:18,290 --> 00:03:20,719
ANNE LONGFIELD: a result. And on the other side of it,

80
00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,839
ANNE LONGFIELD: which feeds my optimistic elements

81
00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,109
ANNE LONGFIELD: — which hopefully are in the main

82
00:03:27,110 --> 00:03:29,059
ANNE LONGFIELD: — I was very aware that you could do

83
00:03:29,060 --> 00:03:31,729
ANNE LONGFIELD: things about this. I worked in the very

84
00:03:31,730 --> 00:03:34,879
ANNE LONGFIELD: early days with families and parents

85
00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,939
ANNE LONGFIELD: in parts of south west London where

86
00:03:37,940 --> 00:03:40,999
ANNE LONGFIELD: proper ongoing support was

87
00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,909
ANNE LONGFIELD: available, and I was part of

88
00:03:43,910 --> 00:03:45,289
ANNE LONGFIELD: of delivering that.

89
00:03:45,290 --> 00:03:47,779
ANNE LONGFIELD: And with that kind of expectation that

90
00:03:47,780 --> 00:03:49,969
ANNE LONGFIELD: support was there, families were really

91
00:03:49,970 --> 00:03:53,089
ANNE LONGFIELD: able to achieve huge things and

92
00:03:53,090 --> 00:03:55,129
ANNE LONGFIELD: plan for their future with their kids and

93
00:03:55,130 --> 00:03:58,189
ANNE LONGFIELD: have that reliance or that

94
00:03:58,190 --> 00:04:00,229
ANNE LONGFIELD: confidence that support was there when

95
00:04:00,230 --> 00:04:03,289
ANNE LONGFIELD: they needed it. So I've always known

96
00:04:03,290 --> 00:04:06,559
ANNE LONGFIELD: the power of having support

97
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:08,359
ANNE LONGFIELD: that you could turn to and you could rely

98
00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,969
ANNE LONGFIELD: on and trusted people that could do that.

99
00:04:10,970 --> 00:04:13,609
ANNE LONGFIELD: And I guess that has influenced me

100
00:04:13,610 --> 00:04:14,929
ANNE LONGFIELD: throughout.

101
00:04:14,930 --> 00:04:18,199
ANNE LONGFIELD: And to get to the point of the

102
00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,929
ANNE LONGFIELD: specific topic of this book, all of my

103
00:04:20,930 --> 00:04:23,659
ANNE LONGFIELD: work as Children's Commissioner built on

104
00:04:23,660 --> 00:04:25,819
ANNE LONGFIELD: that. One of the things that you have as

105
00:04:25,820 --> 00:04:28,249
ANNE LONGFIELD: your powers as Children's Commissioner is

106
00:04:28,250 --> 00:04:31,249
ANNE LONGFIELD: that you're able to gather data from any

107
00:04:31,250 --> 00:04:33,319
ANNE LONGFIELD: public body regarding children —not

108
00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,469
ANNE LONGFIELD: personal data, but administrative data

109
00:04:36,470 --> 00:04:39,589
ANNE LONGFIELD: that you can then analyse and you can go

110
00:04:39,590 --> 00:04:41,539
ANNE LONGFIELD: behind the headlines, go behind the

111
00:04:41,540 --> 00:04:43,609
ANNE LONGFIELD: findings and find out what's really going

112
00:04:43,610 --> 00:04:46,159
ANNE LONGFIELD: on. And I spent those six years as

113
00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:47,160
ANNE LONGFIELD: Children's Commissioner really

114
00:04:48,050 --> 00:04:50,479
ANNE LONGFIELD: establishing the levels of vulnerability

115
00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,459
ANNE LONGFIELD: in this country and also the nature of

116
00:04:52,460 --> 00:04:55,849
ANNE LONGFIELD: that to really attempt to get the focus

117
00:04:55,850 --> 00:04:59,029
ANNE LONGFIELD: on the root causes of this and getting

118
00:04:59,030 --> 00:05:01,040
ANNE LONGFIELD: ahead of the game in terms of preventing

119
00:05:02,090 --> 00:05:05,179
ANNE LONGFIELD: the crises that we can all see in front

120
00:05:05,180 --> 00:05:08,029
ANNE LONGFIELD: of our eyes. It was very clear to me as

121
00:05:08,030 --> 00:05:10,459
ANNE LONGFIELD: Children's Commissioner, but also at the

122
00:05:10,460 --> 00:05:13,639
ANNE LONGFIELD: end of my term, that actually there

123
00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,279
ANNE LONGFIELD: was a huge paucity of research and

124
00:05:16,280 --> 00:05:18,049
ANNE LONGFIELD: knowledge about vulnerability for

125
00:05:18,050 --> 00:05:19,339
ANNE LONGFIELD: teenagers.

126
00:05:19,340 --> 00:05:22,429
ANNE LONGFIELD: There was a collective horror

127
00:05:22,430 --> 00:05:24,559
ANNE LONGFIELD: at some of the headlines that we would all

128
00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,225
ANNE LONGFIELD: see in the newspapers or in the serious

129
00:05:27,226 --> 00:05:28,909
ANNE LONGFIELD: case reviews.

130
00:05:28,910 --> 00:05:31,819
ANNE LONGFIELD: But actually there wasn't the machinery or

131
00:05:31,820 --> 00:05:34,879
ANNE LONGFIELD: policy space or policy coordination within

132
00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,939
ANNE LONGFIELD: government to spend

133
00:05:37,940 --> 00:05:40,969
ANNE LONGFIELD: the time needed to understand why these

134
00:05:40,970 --> 00:05:42,619
ANNE LONGFIELD: things happened and how they could be

135
00:05:42,620 --> 00:05:44,119
ANNE LONGFIELD: prevented.

136
00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,389
ANNE LONGFIELD: So I spent the

137
00:05:47,390 --> 00:05:50,899
ANNE LONGFIELD: following two years, having founded

138
00:05:50,900 --> 00:05:52,729
ANNE LONGFIELD: a Commission on Young Lives to look at

139
00:05:52,730 --> 00:05:55,279
ANNE LONGFIELD: these things, understanding that and

140
00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:58,459
ANNE LONGFIELD: bringing forward what I hoped

141
00:05:58,460 --> 00:06:00,949
ANNE LONGFIELD: would be not only practical and doable

142
00:06:00,950 --> 00:06:03,649
ANNE LONGFIELD: solutions, but also eye-catching solutions

143
00:06:03,650 --> 00:06:06,769
ANNE LONGFIELD: that would really put forward

144
00:06:06,770 --> 00:06:09,619
ANNE LONGFIELD: a plan nationally and locally and put a

145
00:06:09,620 --> 00:06:12,049
ANNE LONGFIELD: policy emphasis and highlight onto that,

146
00:06:12,050 --> 00:06:14,359
ANNE LONGFIELD: which I hope that has done.

147
00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,359
ANNE LONGFIELD: And that work really led to a lot

148
00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:18,679
ANNE LONGFIELD: of the thinking about the book and

149
00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,469
ANNE LONGFIELD: bringing all that together into a

150
00:06:21,470 --> 00:06:24,739
ANNE LONGFIELD: narrative about what goes wrong and

151
00:06:24,740 --> 00:06:27,739
ANNE LONGFIELD: also what we could achieve as a country

152
00:06:27,740 --> 00:06:29,419
ANNE LONGFIELD: if we were more ambitious for our

153
00:06:29,420 --> 00:06:31,579
ANNE LONGFIELD: vulnerable children and our teens.

154
00:06:31,580 --> 00:06:33,139
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Thank you. That was a great

155
00:06:33,140 --> 00:06:35,089
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: introduction and context.

156
00:06:35,090 --> 00:06:36,619
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Moving on a bit to that first

157
00:06:36,620 --> 00:06:39,589
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: chapter, which I thought was really,

158
00:06:39,590 --> 00:06:42,259
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: really powerful. You know, these are

159
00:06:42,260 --> 00:06:43,819
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: young lives and particularly the

160
00:06:43,820 --> 00:06:47,449
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: story around Jayden and Jacob

161
00:06:47,450 --> 00:06:48,859
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: and I have a bit of a question around

162
00:06:48,860 --> 00:06:50,119
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: that. So in the beginning of that

163
00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,249
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: chapter in the book, you talk about

164
00:06:52,250 --> 00:06:54,769
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: the failure to find "reachable

165
00:06:54,770 --> 00:06:56,629
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: moments" when children could be

166
00:06:56,630 --> 00:06:59,479
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: better supported, or in the worst

167
00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,339
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: instances when children's lives could

168
00:07:01,340 --> 00:07:03,679
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: have been saved. So what do you think

169
00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:05,389
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: those... I mean, you've begun to talk

170
00:07:05,390 --> 00:07:07,519
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: about that in that introduction, but

171
00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:09,019
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: what do you think about what those

172
00:07:09,020 --> 00:07:10,489
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: reachable moments look like?

173
00:07:10,490 --> 00:07:14,539
ANNE LONGFIELD: I think what is very evident is that

174
00:07:14,540 --> 00:07:18,289
ANNE LONGFIELD: we haven't recognised

175
00:07:18,290 --> 00:07:21,889
ANNE LONGFIELD: the risks that face teenagers enough

176
00:07:21,890 --> 00:07:23,239
ANNE LONGFIELD: in the past.

177
00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:26,059
ANNE LONGFIELD: That recognition hasn't gained its place

178
00:07:26,060 --> 00:07:28,549
ANNE LONGFIELD: in many of the statutory services that

179
00:07:28,550 --> 00:07:30,561
ANNE LONGFIELD: need to be much more aware of this and

180
00:07:30,562 --> 00:07:33,649
ANNE LONGFIELD: need to be both alert but also clear of

181
00:07:33,650 --> 00:07:34,999
ANNE LONGFIELD: their role.

182
00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:36,379
ANNE LONGFIELD: That's not to say there aren't brilliant

183
00:07:36,380 --> 00:07:38,749
ANNE LONGFIELD: people doing good things, but whether you

184
00:07:38,750 --> 00:07:40,219
ANNE LONGFIELD: look in children's social care, whether

185
00:07:40,220 --> 00:07:41,539
ANNE LONGFIELD: you look in the police, whether you look

186
00:07:41,540 --> 00:07:44,809
ANNE LONGFIELD: in some of the work around schools,

187
00:07:44,810 --> 00:07:47,179
ANNE LONGFIELD: there hasn't been that joined-up approach

188
00:07:47,180 --> 00:07:49,549
ANNE LONGFIELD: to being able to understand what the

189
00:07:49,550 --> 00:07:53,029
ANNE LONGFIELD: symptoms of vulnerability are, nor indeed

190
00:07:53,030 --> 00:07:56,569
ANNE LONGFIELD: when interventions are needed.

191
00:07:56,570 --> 00:07:58,909
ANNE LONGFIELD: And, as a result, children have often

192
00:07:58,910 --> 00:08:00,649
ANNE LONGFIELD: fallen through the gaps.

193
00:08:00,650 --> 00:08:02,599
ANNE LONGFIELD: I mean, the serious cases reviews speak

194
00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:04,399
ANNE LONGFIELD: for themselves in terms of the horror of

195
00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,189
ANNE LONGFIELD: how some of those tragedies happen.

196
00:08:07,190 --> 00:08:10,369
ANNE LONGFIELD: But also, I am told constantly

197
00:08:10,370 --> 00:08:13,579
ANNE LONGFIELD: by professionals working with young people

198
00:08:13,580 --> 00:08:16,099
ANNE LONGFIELD: that building relationships with young

199
00:08:16,100 --> 00:08:18,663
ANNE LONGFIELD: people who are often living lives of huge

200
00:08:19,940 --> 00:08:22,789
ANNE LONGFIELD: risk, there's not enough time spent on

201
00:08:22,790 --> 00:08:24,289
ANNE LONGFIELD: those relationships.

202
00:08:24,290 --> 00:08:25,849
ANNE LONGFIELD: And at the end of the day, it's the

203
00:08:25,850 --> 00:08:27,109
ANNE LONGFIELD: relationships that matter.

204
00:08:27,110 --> 00:08:28,819
ANNE LONGFIELD: It's the relationships that young people

205
00:08:28,820 --> 00:08:31,699
ANNE LONGFIELD: need to be able to have that confidence

206
00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:32,989
ANNE LONGFIELD: there's someone to turn to.

207
00:08:32,990 --> 00:08:34,249
ANNE LONGFIELD: Be able to get advice, able to get

208
00:08:34,250 --> 00:08:37,579
ANNE LONGFIELD: support. And so often

209
00:08:37,580 --> 00:08:41,089
ANNE LONGFIELD: those young people have missed out and

210
00:08:41,090 --> 00:08:44,119
ANNE LONGFIELD: faced huge escalating risks sometimes

211
00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:45,379
ANNE LONGFIELD: as a result.

212
00:08:45,380 --> 00:08:47,809
ANNE LONGFIELD: So those moments: well, you know, there

213
00:08:47,810 --> 00:08:49,399
ANNE LONGFIELD: are some clear indicators.

214
00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:51,799
ANNE LONGFIELD: You don't have to put it in professional

215
00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,199
ANNE LONGFIELD: jargon; just when things are going wrong.

216
00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,119
ANNE LONGFIELD: As a parent, you know when things aren't

217
00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,089
ANNE LONGFIELD: going right in terms of your child's life.

218
00:08:59,090 --> 00:09:01,039
ANNE LONGFIELD: When they're struggling at school, when

219
00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:02,629
ANNE LONGFIELD: they don't want to go to school, when

220
00:09:02,630 --> 00:09:05,569
ANNE LONGFIELD: there's behaviour problems at school, when

221
00:09:05,570 --> 00:09:08,569
ANNE LONGFIELD: the school may be instituting

222
00:09:08,570 --> 00:09:11,869
ANNE LONGFIELD: suspensions or exclusions, when children

223
00:09:11,870 --> 00:09:14,569
ANNE LONGFIELD: are spending long periods of time with

224
00:09:14,570 --> 00:09:15,889
ANNE LONGFIELD: groups of friends you don't know or

225
00:09:15,890 --> 00:09:17,179
ANNE LONGFIELD: changing groups of friends.

226
00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,989
ANNE LONGFIELD: All of those points are points that we

227
00:09:20,990 --> 00:09:24,769
ANNE LONGFIELD: should be alert to young people's

228
00:09:24,770 --> 00:09:26,629
ANNE LONGFIELD: welfare and wellbeing.

229
00:09:26,630 --> 00:09:28,579
ANNE LONGFIELD: And as parents and as professionals, we

230
00:09:28,580 --> 00:09:30,379
ANNE LONGFIELD: need to be alert to that. So if a school

231
00:09:30,380 --> 00:09:33,469
ANNE LONGFIELD: has got a child who isn't

232
00:09:33,470 --> 00:09:36,529
ANNE LONGFIELD: attending school often, a child who

233
00:09:36,530 --> 00:09:38,509
ANNE LONGFIELD: is struggling with certain situations, a

234
00:09:38,510 --> 00:09:41,719
ANNE LONGFIELD: child who is at risk of being excluded,

235
00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,079
ANNE LONGFIELD: then that's a huge red flag for

236
00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:46,909
ANNE LONGFIELD: 'something is going on'.

237
00:09:46,910 --> 00:09:50,269
ANNE LONGFIELD: And what I think we need to see is,

238
00:09:50,270 --> 00:09:53,239
ANNE LONGFIELD: at that point, a response that has —

239
00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:54,821
ANNE LONGFIELD: be it a pastoral team or preventative

240
00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,059
ANNE LONGFIELD: work with children at risk and families

241
00:09:59,060 --> 00:10:01,489
ANNE LONGFIELD: from social care — to be able to start

242
00:10:01,490 --> 00:10:04,069
ANNE LONGFIELD: wrapping around support and being able to

243
00:10:04,070 --> 00:10:07,039
ANNE LONGFIELD: help get out of that situation.

244
00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,399
ANNE LONGFIELD: And, of course, the most glaringly obvious

245
00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,339
ANNE LONGFIELD: point where there is one of those moments

246
00:10:13,340 --> 00:10:16,669
ANNE LONGFIELD: is when children end up in A&E.

247
00:10:16,670 --> 00:10:18,909
ANNE LONGFIELD: Often with boys, they will end up in A&E

248
00:10:18,910 --> 00:10:20,989
ANNE LONGFIELD: where there's been

249
00:10:22,070 --> 00:10:24,799
ANNE LONGFIELD: some kind of serious violence or knife

250
00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,049
ANNE LONGFIELD: attack and they've ended up injured.

251
00:10:27,050 --> 00:10:28,849
ANNE LONGFIELD: For girls, less likely to be in that

252
00:10:28,850 --> 00:10:31,999
ANNE LONGFIELD: situation, but equally they

253
00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,909
ANNE LONGFIELD: may go into A&E and talk about mental

254
00:10:34,910 --> 00:10:36,409
ANNE LONGFIELD: health or sexual health.

255
00:10:36,410 --> 00:10:39,049
ANNE LONGFIELD: Those are very obvious points where no one

256
00:10:39,050 --> 00:10:41,359
ANNE LONGFIELD: can ignore the fact something is going

257
00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:42,679
ANNE LONGFIELD: very wrong here.

258
00:10:42,680 --> 00:10:45,589
ANNE LONGFIELD: And one of the things that we've talked

259
00:10:45,590 --> 00:10:47,669
ANNE LONGFIELD: about in the book is about, at that point,

260
00:10:47,670 --> 00:10:50,779
ANNE LONGFIELD: to be able to have youth workers, girls

261
00:10:50,780 --> 00:10:54,109
ANNE LONGFIELD: workers, others there who can

262
00:10:54,110 --> 00:10:57,139
ANNE LONGFIELD: work intensively alongside those

263
00:10:57,140 --> 00:11:00,019
ANNE LONGFIELD: young people to be able to help them

264
00:11:00,020 --> 00:11:01,939
ANNE LONGFIELD: overcome whatever challenges, get out of

265
00:11:01,940 --> 00:11:03,889
ANNE LONGFIELD: whatever situation they're in.

266
00:11:03,890 --> 00:11:05,689
ANNE LONGFIELD: But it shouldn't take to the point where

267
00:11:05,690 --> 00:11:07,286
ANNE LONGFIELD: you've got a child being brought into an

268
00:11:07,287 --> 00:11:09,589
ANNE LONGFIELD: A&E covered in blood for us to know that

269
00:11:09,590 --> 00:11:11,779
ANNE LONGFIELD: something isn't going right.

270
00:11:11,780 --> 00:11:14,539
ANNE LONGFIELD: And it shouldn't be that the only point

271
00:11:14,540 --> 00:11:17,749
ANNE LONGFIELD: our services can respond to the extent

272
00:11:17,750 --> 00:11:20,389
ANNE LONGFIELD: needed is if it's actually a matter of

273
00:11:20,390 --> 00:11:22,399
ANNE LONGFIELD: life or death. We need to come way

274
00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,549
ANNE LONGFIELD: upstream in understanding where those

275
00:11:25,550 --> 00:11:27,275
ANNE LONGFIELD: children have vulnerabilities at home —

276
00:11:27,276 --> 00:11:29,382
ANNE LONGFIELD: before school, during primary, and as

277
00:11:30,590 --> 00:11:33,319
ANNE LONGFIELD: they move inro secondary school — and also

278
00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,419
ANNE LONGFIELD: be able to see the signs and respond to

279
00:11:35,420 --> 00:11:37,759
ANNE LONGFIELD: those signs when things are going well.

280
00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,669
ANNE LONGFIELD: And all of those moments where children

281
00:11:40,670 --> 00:11:43,369
ANNE LONGFIELD: are showing the signs of vulnerability, be

282
00:11:43,370 --> 00:11:45,349
ANNE LONGFIELD: that in school, be that not attending

283
00:11:45,350 --> 00:11:48,409
ANNE LONGFIELD: school, all of those points are where

284
00:11:48,410 --> 00:11:50,629
ANNE LONGFIELD: I would like to see there's enough

285
00:11:50,630 --> 00:11:54,109
ANNE LONGFIELD: relationships there to be able to bring

286
00:11:54,110 --> 00:11:55,879
ANNE LONGFIELD: that ring of protection around them.

287
00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,819
ANNE LONGFIELD: Now, youth workers in particular

288
00:11:58,820 --> 00:12:01,969
ANNE LONGFIELD: are often the ones who are able to

289
00:12:01,970 --> 00:12:03,619
ANNE LONGFIELD: deliver on that magic.

290
00:12:03,620 --> 00:12:06,949
ANNE LONGFIELD: You know, when children might not

291
00:12:06,950 --> 00:12:09,919
ANNE LONGFIELD: feel able to, or that

292
00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,919
ANNE LONGFIELD: they want to, confide in schools or

293
00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,349
ANNE LONGFIELD: confide in parents or do any of the things

294
00:12:15,350 --> 00:12:17,419
ANNE LONGFIELD: that those people want them to do,

295
00:12:17,420 --> 00:12:20,229
ANNE LONGFIELD: actually, it's youth workers who will be

296
00:12:20,230 --> 00:12:22,869
ANNE LONGFIELD: able to be the ones that find that

297
00:12:22,870 --> 00:12:25,599
ANNE LONGFIELD: connection and work with them to be able

298
00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:28,479
ANNE LONGFIELD: to develop their trust and relationship

299
00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,129
ANNE LONGFIELD: and also support them and guide them to a

300
00:12:30,130 --> 00:12:33,519
ANNE LONGFIELD: different place. Which is why in the book

301
00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,369
ANNE LONGFIELD: I put such an emphasis on youth workers

302
00:12:36,370 --> 00:12:38,589
ANNE LONGFIELD: being part of that solution.

303
00:12:38,590 --> 00:12:40,059
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Just picking up on that theme a bit

304
00:12:40,060 --> 00:12:42,669
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: more about relationships, raising

305
00:12:42,670 --> 00:12:44,229
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: awareness so we understand those

306
00:12:44,230 --> 00:12:46,989
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: signs and of where to intervene.

307
00:12:46,990 --> 00:12:48,429
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: But also you talked about — which I

308
00:12:48,430 --> 00:12:50,049
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: love — that idea of youth workers

309
00:12:50,050 --> 00:12:51,729
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: delivering that magic.

310
00:12:51,730 --> 00:12:53,139
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: And the next question I was going to

311
00:12:53,140 --> 00:12:55,239
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: ask was about support at the right

312
00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:57,219
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: time and the right place to properly

313
00:12:57,220 --> 00:12:58,689
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: prevent abuse.

314
00:12:58,690 --> 00:13:00,009
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: And I had a question about what that

315
00:13:00,010 --> 00:13:02,289
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: meant to properly invest in early

316
00:13:02,290 --> 00:13:03,999
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: years, but maybe I could widen that a

317
00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,679
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: bit more to what does that properly

318
00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:06,680
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: mean to invest...

319
00:13:08,050 --> 00:13:09,699
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: maybe you want to say something about
youth workers

320
00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:09,999
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: there?

321
00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:11,559
ANNE LONGFIELD: Yeah, I would say...

322
00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:13,269
ANNE LONGFIELD: I mean, the book is essentially about

323
00:13:13,270 --> 00:13:16,359
ANNE LONGFIELD: teenagers. It's about how we

324
00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,269
ANNE LONGFIELD: provide better support for

325
00:13:19,270 --> 00:13:22,869
ANNE LONGFIELD: teenagers who are struggling

326
00:13:22,870 --> 00:13:25,839
ANNE LONGFIELD: and how we have high ambitions for their

327
00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:27,459
ANNE LONGFIELD: lives for them.

328
00:13:27,460 --> 00:13:31,029
ANNE LONGFIELD: But, you know, at the heart of that

329
00:13:31,030 --> 00:13:34,059
ANNE LONGFIELD: is a recognition that actually we

330
00:13:34,060 --> 00:13:36,549
ANNE LONGFIELD: need to start with that support from the

331
00:13:36,550 --> 00:13:39,669
ANNE LONGFIELD: absolute earliest weeks of life.

332
00:13:39,670 --> 00:13:42,699
ANNE LONGFIELD: Now, I spent a good slice

333
00:13:42,700 --> 00:13:45,619
ANNE LONGFIELD: of my life in the past arguing for and

334
00:13:45,620 --> 00:13:47,319
ANNE LONGFIELD: then helping develop and deliver Sure

335
00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,209
ANNE LONGFIELD: Start children centres.

336
00:13:49,210 --> 00:13:52,209
ANNE LONGFIELD: That for me was a vital

337
00:13:52,210 --> 00:13:54,249
ANNE LONGFIELD: part of the infrastructure that would help

338
00:13:54,250 --> 00:13:56,919
ANNE LONGFIELD: those families who needed a bit more help

339
00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:00,039
ANNE LONGFIELD: to be able to have the back-up,

340
00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,249
ANNE LONGFIELD: the advice, the relationships with support

341
00:14:03,250 --> 00:14:06,369
ANNE LONGFIELD: near to home to be able to

342
00:14:06,370 --> 00:14:07,839
ANNE LONGFIELD: bring up their children in the way they

343
00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:09,219
ANNE LONGFIELD: wanted to.

344
00:14:09,220 --> 00:14:12,249
ANNE LONGFIELD: My hopes and ambitions are that

345
00:14:12,250 --> 00:14:15,609
ANNE LONGFIELD: we have a rebuilt infrastructure

346
00:14:15,610 --> 00:14:17,229
ANNE LONGFIELD: for children and families from birth

347
00:14:17,230 --> 00:14:19,779
ANNE LONGFIELD: onwards in any new government.

348
00:14:19,780 --> 00:14:22,330
ANNE LONGFIELD: I don't care much about what it's called,

349
00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:25,899
ANNE LONGFIELD: but it is about place-based support like

350
00:14:25,900 --> 00:14:28,839
ANNE LONGFIELD: children centres. So helping kids

351
00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:30,489
ANNE LONGFIELD: get to the point where they can go into

352
00:14:30,490 --> 00:14:33,189
ANNE LONGFIELD: school with a bounce is really vital, and

353
00:14:33,190 --> 00:14:35,349
ANNE LONGFIELD: we know that the kids I'm talking about in

354
00:14:35,350 --> 00:14:37,239
ANNE LONGFIELD: this book are the ones that are largely

355
00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:39,489
ANNE LONGFIELD: going to start school behind their peers

356
00:14:39,490 --> 00:14:41,269
ANNE LONGFIELD: and stay behind their peers throughout.

357
00:14:41,270 --> 00:14:44,499
ANNE LONGFIELD: So enabling that not to happen, ensuring

358
00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:46,779
ANNE LONGFIELD: that they get the best support in terms of

359
00:14:46,780 --> 00:14:48,579
ANNE LONGFIELD: speech and language, in terms of emotional

360
00:14:48,580 --> 00:14:51,579
ANNE LONGFIELD: development, in terms of helping them

361
00:14:51,580 --> 00:14:54,999
ANNE LONGFIELD: get ahead at that moment of starting

362
00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,279
ANNE LONGFIELD: school is really important.

363
00:14:57,280 --> 00:15:00,309
ANNE LONGFIELD: Primary schools that have a strong

364
00:15:00,310 --> 00:15:03,639
ANNE LONGFIELD: focus on nurture, that work with families,

365
00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,249
ANNE LONGFIELD: that offer family support, that work with

366
00:15:06,250 --> 00:15:09,309
ANNE LONGFIELD: other services in the local community,

367
00:15:09,310 --> 00:15:11,319
ANNE LONGFIELD: including public services, to be able to

368
00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:13,779
ANNE LONGFIELD: offer a joined-up hub, if you like, of

369
00:15:13,780 --> 00:15:16,719
ANNE LONGFIELD: support any children and family centres

370
00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,299
ANNE LONGFIELD: or hubs of the future do need to work

371
00:15:19,300 --> 00:15:21,009
ANNE LONGFIELD: throughout primary school years

372
00:15:22,300 --> 00:15:24,939
ANNE LONGFIELD: and then into the teenage years too.

373
00:15:24,940 --> 00:15:28,389
ANNE LONGFIELD: I think we underuse the great

374
00:15:28,390 --> 00:15:31,479
ANNE LONGFIELD: assets that a school has in

375
00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:34,029
ANNE LONGFIELD: terms of its resource within the community

376
00:15:34,030 --> 00:15:37,329
ANNE LONGFIELD: after school, during school holidays.

377
00:15:37,330 --> 00:15:39,309
ANNE LONGFIELD: We're at a moment in time where breakfast

378
00:15:39,310 --> 00:15:42,129
ANNE LONGFIELD: clubs are back on the agenda and being

379
00:15:42,130 --> 00:15:45,399
ANNE LONGFIELD: discussed. I think these are all

380
00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,159
ANNE LONGFIELD: essential support platforms that can help

381
00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:51,129
ANNE LONGFIELD: families and help children in terms of

382
00:15:51,130 --> 00:15:54,039
ANNE LONGFIELD: reducing poverty, in terms of offering

383
00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,859
ANNE LONGFIELD: additional support, in terms of delivering

384
00:15:56,860 --> 00:15:59,259
ANNE LONGFIELD: really important things like nutritious

385
00:15:59,260 --> 00:16:02,589
ANNE LONGFIELD: meals and access to activities;

386
00:16:02,590 --> 00:16:04,659
ANNE LONGFIELD: and then following that through in terms

387
00:16:04,660 --> 00:16:07,179
ANNE LONGFIELD: of secondary schools, and increasing these

388
00:16:07,180 --> 00:16:10,929
ANNE LONGFIELD: children move into their secondary

389
00:16:10,930 --> 00:16:14,319
ANNE LONGFIELD: school, that importance of youth workers

390
00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,499
ANNE LONGFIELD: as one of those delivery agents to be

391
00:16:17,500 --> 00:16:18,849
ANNE LONGFIELD: around children's lives.

392
00:16:18,850 --> 00:16:21,369
ANNE LONGFIELD: Again, huge decline in the number of

393
00:16:21,370 --> 00:16:23,199
ANNE LONGFIELD: places for young people to be in their

394
00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,299
ANNE LONGFIELD: community over the last decade plus.

395
00:16:25,300 --> 00:16:28,959
ANNE LONGFIELD: Huge decrease in number of youth centres

396
00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,779
ANNE LONGFIELD: in the number of secondary schools who are

397
00:16:31,780 --> 00:16:34,449
ANNE LONGFIELD: operating after school, during school

398
00:16:34,450 --> 00:16:35,929
ANNE LONGFIELD: holidays and the like.

399
00:16:35,930 --> 00:16:39,789
ANNE LONGFIELD: But if we want to reintroduce

400
00:16:39,790 --> 00:16:42,369
ANNE LONGFIELD: a system of support that can be a system

401
00:16:42,370 --> 00:16:45,489
ANNE LONGFIELD: that responds to need at the point needed,

402
00:16:45,490 --> 00:16:47,469
ANNE LONGFIELD: then those are all elements that I think

403
00:16:48,730 --> 00:16:50,810
ANNE LONGFIELD: are required as part of that build-back.

404
00:16:51,850 --> 00:16:53,769
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Just in terms of the strengthening of

405
00:16:53,770 --> 00:16:55,119
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: the workforce and, you know,

406
00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:56,619
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: particularly thinking from my

407
00:16:56,620 --> 00:16:58,329
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: perspective as a qualified social

408
00:16:58,330 --> 00:17:00,489
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: worker. What do you think we could do

409
00:17:00,490 --> 00:17:03,459
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: to ensure that, in terms of

410
00:17:03,460 --> 00:17:06,489
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: building that much more resilient

411
00:17:06,490 --> 00:17:09,939
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: and purposeful support from birth to

412
00:17:09,940 --> 00:17:11,679
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: adulthood, what do you think we could

413
00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:13,598
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: do, what would help to strengthen

414
00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:14,889
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: that workforce? Because they're often

415
00:17:14,890 --> 00:17:16,879
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: doing the most critical work and

416
00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:18,578
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: they're not very well paid, the tools

417
00:17:18,579 --> 00:17:20,489
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: might not be... you know, I just

418
00:17:20,490 --> 00:17:22,019
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: wondered what your thoughts might be

419
00:17:22,020 --> 00:17:23,098
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: on that.

420
00:17:23,099 --> 00:17:25,259
ANNE LONGFIELD: Absolutely. So I think at the moment, as

421
00:17:25,260 --> 00:17:28,318
ANNE LONGFIELD: you say, we've got a lot of very skilled

422
00:17:28,319 --> 00:17:31,499
ANNE LONGFIELD: people who would delivering really vital

423
00:17:31,500 --> 00:17:33,959
ANNE LONGFIELD: work that can be make or break for

424
00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:35,849
ANNE LONGFIELD: children and their families.

425
00:17:35,850 --> 00:17:37,469
ANNE LONGFIELD: But often they're doing it

426
00:17:39,060 --> 00:17:41,009
ANNE LONGFIELD: without the recognition of the system

427
00:17:41,010 --> 00:17:44,039
ANNE LONGFIELD: properly or without the

428
00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,409
ANNE LONGFIELD: professional kind of wrapping that you

429
00:17:46,410 --> 00:17:48,209
ANNE LONGFIELD: might expect for something that important,

430
00:17:48,210 --> 00:17:51,059
ANNE LONGFIELD: or indeed the salary within that.

431
00:17:51,060 --> 00:17:54,599
ANNE LONGFIELD: And there isn't a clear pathway

432
00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:58,019
ANNE LONGFIELD: in. There isn't a clear packaging,

433
00:17:58,020 --> 00:18:00,959
ANNE LONGFIELD: if you like, of the range of workforce

434
00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:04,049
ANNE LONGFIELD: roles that are working in this

435
00:18:04,050 --> 00:18:06,179
ANNE LONGFIELD: area. That sounds a little bit convoluted,

436
00:18:06,180 --> 00:18:08,459
ANNE LONGFIELD: but as an example: so when you look at

437
00:18:08,460 --> 00:18:10,349
ANNE LONGFIELD: young people, when you've got some people

438
00:18:10,350 --> 00:18:13,019
ANNE LONGFIELD: who are doing brilliant work in pastoral

439
00:18:13,020 --> 00:18:15,719
ANNE LONGFIELD: care in schools, you've got some that are

440
00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,689
ANNE LONGFIELD: working in the community as youth workers

441
00:18:18,690 --> 00:18:20,969
ANNE LONGFIELD: or indeed in schools, and that's great.

442
00:18:20,970 --> 00:18:22,949
ANNE LONGFIELD: You've got some people who are working as

443
00:18:22,950 --> 00:18:25,499
ANNE LONGFIELD: part of youth offending teams, doing vital

444
00:18:25,500 --> 00:18:28,649
ANNE LONGFIELD: work. You've got some people who are

445
00:18:28,650 --> 00:18:30,569
ANNE LONGFIELD: doing the kind of supportive work around

446
00:18:30,570 --> 00:18:33,629
ANNE LONGFIELD: families, again, that is really important.

447
00:18:33,630 --> 00:18:36,989
ANNE LONGFIELD: What you don't have is any way

448
00:18:36,990 --> 00:18:39,899
ANNE LONGFIELD: of bringing all of those interventions

449
00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:43,739
ANNE LONGFIELD: together into a recognised

450
00:18:43,740 --> 00:18:47,279
ANNE LONGFIELD: group of professions or professionals

451
00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,279
ANNE LONGFIELD: that can have the

452
00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:52,859
ANNE LONGFIELD: recognition and status needed about the

453
00:18:52,860 --> 00:18:54,209
ANNE LONGFIELD: importance of that work.

454
00:18:54,210 --> 00:18:57,379
ANNE LONGFIELD: Now, I think, if you went back 10 or

455
00:18:57,380 --> 00:18:59,909
ANNE LONGFIELD: 15 years, there were pathways towards

456
00:18:59,910 --> 00:19:02,579
ANNE LONGFIELD: that: a more coherent workforce strategy

457
00:19:02,580 --> 00:19:05,519
ANNE LONGFIELD: for those working with children; a more

458
00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,819
ANNE LONGFIELD: developed pathway and climbing frame

459
00:19:08,820 --> 00:19:11,099
ANNE LONGFIELD: between different elements of the

460
00:19:11,100 --> 00:19:13,439
ANNE LONGFIELD: professions; a more established

461
00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,739
ANNE LONGFIELD: understanding that actually pastoral care

462
00:19:16,740 --> 00:19:19,709
ANNE LONGFIELD: and support in a slightly less

463
00:19:19,710 --> 00:19:22,859
ANNE LONGFIELD: formal way than maybe social work had

464
00:19:22,860 --> 00:19:26,219
ANNE LONGFIELD: huge value and a connection into that.

465
00:19:26,220 --> 00:19:29,279
ANNE LONGFIELD: Those, I think, have fallen away somewhat

466
00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:33,269
ANNE LONGFIELD: in the stresses and strains and challenges

467
00:19:33,270 --> 00:19:35,129
ANNE LONGFIELD: of those services being under huge

468
00:19:35,130 --> 00:19:38,489
ANNE LONGFIELD: pressure themselves, and a rising

469
00:19:38,490 --> 00:19:41,669
ANNE LONGFIELD: threshold for support often driven

470
00:19:41,670 --> 00:19:43,628
ANNE LONGFIELD: by cost challenges and the like.

471
00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,129
ANNE LONGFIELD: And those have obviously driven a lot of

472
00:19:47,130 --> 00:19:49,169
ANNE LONGFIELD: those services towards the high end of

473
00:19:49,170 --> 00:19:52,709
ANNE LONGFIELD: acute response and acute need and crisis.

474
00:19:52,710 --> 00:19:55,109
ANNE LONGFIELD: I think it is established and everyone

475
00:19:55,110 --> 00:19:58,049
ANNE LONGFIELD: knows that if we're really going to get to

476
00:19:58,050 --> 00:20:00,509
ANNE LONGFIELD: the point where we're able to prevent some

477
00:20:00,510 --> 00:20:02,159
ANNE LONGFIELD: of these things developing, we are going

478
00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,799
ANNE LONGFIELD: to have to work earlier in the process.

479
00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:08,189
ANNE LONGFIELD: We are going to have to provide that

480
00:20:08,190 --> 00:20:10,649
ANNE LONGFIELD: broader early intervention preventative

481
00:20:10,650 --> 00:20:12,989
ANNE LONGFIELD: work that gets alongside kids and gets

482
00:20:12,990 --> 00:20:14,939
ANNE LONGFIELD: alongside families again.

483
00:20:14,940 --> 00:20:17,699
ANNE LONGFIELD: That will need some more investment in

484
00:20:17,700 --> 00:20:20,639
ANNE LONGFIELD: that area. But we all know that investment

485
00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:22,469
ANNE LONGFIELD: in that area is just a fraction of the

486
00:20:22,470 --> 00:20:24,989
ANNE LONGFIELD: cost of what crises costs in the end.

487
00:20:24,990 --> 00:20:27,029
ANNE LONGFIELD: So there's work to be done there.

488
00:20:27,030 --> 00:20:28,769
ANNE LONGFIELD: There's a job to be done there.

489
00:20:28,770 --> 00:20:31,319
ANNE LONGFIELD: One of the things that I've been involved

490
00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:34,679
ANNE LONGFIELD: in over recent months is discussions

491
00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,769
ANNE LONGFIELD: about how we can build a pathway

492
00:20:37,770 --> 00:20:40,409
ANNE LONGFIELD: to qualification for a group of youth

493
00:20:40,410 --> 00:20:42,959
ANNE LONGFIELD: workers that potentially are working

494
00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:44,849
ANNE LONGFIELD: alongside social workers in quite a

495
00:20:44,850 --> 00:20:46,739
ANNE LONGFIELD: diagnostic way.

496
00:20:46,740 --> 00:20:49,439
ANNE LONGFIELD: Bring in, of course, all the youth work

497
00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:52,229
ANNE LONGFIELD: principles and approaches to that work

498
00:20:52,230 --> 00:20:54,929
ANNE LONGFIELD: with young people, but also do it in a way

499
00:20:54,930 --> 00:20:57,179
ANNE LONGFIELD: that can be part of and complement that

500
00:20:57,180 --> 00:21:00,449
ANNE LONGFIELD: wider social care reach and approach.

501
00:21:00,450 --> 00:21:02,309
ANNE LONGFIELD: And I think there's an area there

502
00:21:03,870 --> 00:21:06,539
ANNE LONGFIELD: that we need to build and concentrate on

503
00:21:06,540 --> 00:21:09,059
ANNE LONGFIELD: in coming months and years.

504
00:21:09,060 --> 00:21:11,399
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: I've picked up about intervening in,

505
00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,039
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: you know, much earlier upstream and

506
00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:15,599
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: strengthening the workforce.

507
00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:17,279
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: I was just curious — because it also

508
00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:18,749
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: took me back to the book — you give

509
00:21:18,750 --> 00:21:22,529
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: so many great examples of where

510
00:21:22,530 --> 00:21:24,029
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: there is positive work going on.

511
00:21:24,030 --> 00:21:25,709
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: So I don't want to give the impression
that

512
00:21:25,710 --> 00:21:26,710
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: it's not.

513
00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:29,159
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: So I just wondered, was there

514
00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,319
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: anything in particular that stood

515
00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:33,719
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: out, a particular project or...?

516
00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:35,699
ANNE LONGFIELD: Yeah, I guess my starting point in all

517
00:21:35,700 --> 00:21:37,559
ANNE LONGFIELD: this is that it doesn't have to be like

518
00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:38,849
ANNE LONGFIELD: this.

519
00:21:38,850 --> 00:21:41,969
ANNE LONGFIELD: There are fantastic example where either

520
00:21:41,970 --> 00:21:44,729
ANNE LONGFIELD: brilliant individuals or great projects

521
00:21:44,730 --> 00:21:47,789
ANNE LONGFIELD: are managing to show that it is possible

522
00:21:47,790 --> 00:21:49,469
ANNE LONGFIELD: to deliver things in a different way.

523
00:21:49,470 --> 00:21:51,899
ANNE LONGFIELD: But often, especially with local

524
00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:53,699
ANNE LONGFIELD: organisations, you know, they're living on

525
00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:55,559
ANNE LONGFIELD: short-term funding, they're living on not

526
00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:56,909
ANNE LONGFIELD: enough funding.

527
00:21:56,910 --> 00:21:59,939
ANNE LONGFIELD: It's relying on a small team

528
00:21:59,940 --> 00:22:02,009
ANNE LONGFIELD: or one individual that's making all that

529
00:22:02,010 --> 00:22:04,679
ANNE LONGFIELD: difference, there's no way the capacity to

530
00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,499
ANNE LONGFIELD: make this mainstream and make this normal.

531
00:22:07,500 --> 00:22:10,469
ANNE LONGFIELD: So my hope is that in

532
00:22:10,470 --> 00:22:12,179
ANNE LONGFIELD: the future we notice that sort of thing

533
00:22:12,180 --> 00:22:14,429
ANNE LONGFIELD: when it's not happening, rather than we

534
00:22:14,430 --> 00:22:17,219
ANNE LONGFIELD: notice it when it is happening, because

535
00:22:17,220 --> 00:22:20,209
ANNE LONGFIELD: hopefully it becomes part of the way

536
00:22:20,210 --> 00:22:22,969
ANNE LONGFIELD: we do things. But some of the inspiration,

537
00:22:22,970 --> 00:22:26,539
ANNE LONGFIELD: well, I mean thinking about schools:

538
00:22:26,540 --> 00:22:28,609
ANNE LONGFIELD: I talk in the book a lot about the

539
00:22:28,610 --> 00:22:31,069
ANNE LONGFIELD: challenge to the education system to be

540
00:22:31,070 --> 00:22:34,219
ANNE LONGFIELD: inclusive, to work very hard to

541
00:22:34,220 --> 00:22:37,429
ANNE LONGFIELD: keep children in school, to support

542
00:22:37,430 --> 00:22:39,829
ANNE LONGFIELD: young people when there are signs that

543
00:22:39,830 --> 00:22:42,919
ANNE LONGFIELD: they might be at risk of exclusion.

544
00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:45,179
ANNE LONGFIELD: There are some great examples of schools.

545
00:22:45,180 --> 00:22:48,649
ANNE LONGFIELD: There's a school in South London

546
00:22:48,650 --> 00:22:50,299
ANNE LONGFIELD: next to the Old Kent Road — it's is a
primary

547
00:22:50,300 --> 00:22:53,209
ANNE LONGFIELD: school actually — called Surrey Square,

548
00:22:53,210 --> 00:22:56,749
ANNE LONGFIELD: that has food banks, that has

549
00:22:56,750 --> 00:23:00,079
ANNE LONGFIELD: clothes banks, that has really developed

550
00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:01,550
ANNE LONGFIELD: work with parents.

551
00:23:03,110 --> 00:23:04,819
ANNE LONGFIELD: There's been a family worker there for a

552
00:23:04,820 --> 00:23:07,576
ANNE LONGFIELD: long time. They do deep work

553
00:23:09,500 --> 00:23:11,359
ANNE LONGFIELD: to understand the needs of children and

554
00:23:11,360 --> 00:23:12,679
ANNE LONGFIELD: families in the area.

555
00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,919
ANNE LONGFIELD: They even go along to the local council

556
00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,199
ANNE LONGFIELD: and the housing department with families

557
00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,169
ANNE LONGFIELD: to help them argue their case for

558
00:23:21,170 --> 00:23:24,109
ANNE LONGFIELD: better housing or some housing

559
00:23:24,110 --> 00:23:25,789
ANNE LONGFIELD: in some awful cases.

560
00:23:25,790 --> 00:23:28,069
ANNE LONGFIELD: You walk into that school, you know it's

561
00:23:28,070 --> 00:23:30,859
ANNE LONGFIELD: about the community. You know it's about

562
00:23:30,860 --> 00:23:32,959
ANNE LONGFIELD: them sticking by that community and doing

563
00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:35,839
ANNE LONGFIELD: everything they can as an anchor

564
00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,389
ANNE LONGFIELD: organisation in the community.

565
00:23:38,390 --> 00:23:40,429
ANNE LONGFIELD: A great example... Well, there's some

566
00:23:40,430 --> 00:23:42,809
ANNE LONGFIELD: fantastic examples of work going on in

567
00:23:42,810 --> 00:23:45,739
ANNE LONGFIELD: A&E, in some of the most awful

568
00:23:45,740 --> 00:23:49,039
ANNE LONGFIELD: situations. Redthread's work with girls,

569
00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:51,813
ANNE LONGFIELD: really inspiring work in some A&Es, again

570
00:23:51,814 --> 00:23:54,829
ANNE LONGFIELD: where they build relationships with

571
00:23:54,830 --> 00:23:58,129
ANNE LONGFIELD: young people over time and really

572
00:23:58,130 --> 00:24:00,859
ANNE LONGFIELD: help support those young people to a

573
00:24:00,860 --> 00:24:02,249
ANNE LONGFIELD: different place.

574
00:24:02,250 --> 00:24:04,549
ANNE LONGFIELD: Football Beyond Borders, working with

575
00:24:04,550 --> 00:24:06,379
ANNE LONGFIELD: children in schools — young people in

576
00:24:06,380 --> 00:24:07,879
ANNE LONGFIELD: schools at risk of exclusion.

577
00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:10,489
ANNE LONGFIELD: 97% success rate of keeping them in

578
00:24:10,490 --> 00:24:13,069
ANNE LONGFIELD: schools when they do that.

579
00:24:13,070 --> 00:24:15,709
ANNE LONGFIELD: You look around the country, all over

580
00:24:15,710 --> 00:24:17,711
ANNE LONGFIELD: there are individual projects and schools

581
00:24:18,980 --> 00:24:21,079
ANNE LONGFIELD: doing fantastic things.

582
00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:25,039
ANNE LONGFIELD: But every one of those is working

583
00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:28,339
ANNE LONGFIELD: probably against all odds because

584
00:24:28,340 --> 00:24:30,349
ANNE LONGFIELD: they're working without the support or

585
00:24:30,350 --> 00:24:31,909
ANNE LONGFIELD: recognition they need.

586
00:24:31,910 --> 00:24:33,739
ANNE LONGFIELD: Imagine— I come away from every one of

587
00:24:33,740 --> 00:24:36,349
ANNE LONGFIELD: those just saying, 'imagine if we have

588
00:24:36,350 --> 00:24:39,259
ANNE LONGFIELD: this everywhere'. And it is within the

589
00:24:39,260 --> 00:24:41,829
ANNE LONGFIELD: range of possibilities to have those kind

590
00:24:41,830 --> 00:24:44,449
ANNE LONGFIELD: of approaches and those things everywhere.

591
00:24:44,450 --> 00:24:46,639
ANNE LONGFIELD: Hence, the book makes the case for why we

592
00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:47,868
ANNE LONGFIELD: should.

593
00:24:47,869 --> 00:24:49,429
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Thank you. I could see, I mean, the
audience

594
00:24:49,430 --> 00:24:51,199
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: won't see this, but I can see how much

595
00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,089
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: that lit you up describing those

596
00:24:53,090 --> 00:24:54,499
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: initiatives.

597
00:24:54,500 --> 00:24:56,209
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: That's such great work that does take

598
00:24:56,210 --> 00:24:58,909
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: place under the most difficult and

599
00:24:58,910 --> 00:25:01,309
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: pressing of circumstances.

600
00:25:01,310 --> 00:25:03,559
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Let me just move on a bit more.

601
00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,299
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: One of the things that that struck me

602
00:25:05,300 --> 00:25:06,859
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: when reading the book was that a lot

603
00:25:06,860 --> 00:25:09,469
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: about what you talk about refers to

604
00:25:09,470 --> 00:25:12,229
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: boys, and particularly boys from

605
00:25:12,230 --> 00:25:14,509
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: minoritised communities.

606
00:25:14,510 --> 00:25:16,279
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Just curious to know whether that was

607
00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,279
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: a conscious decision or borne out by

608
00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:20,869
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: the research process that you

609
00:25:20,870 --> 00:25:22,699
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: undertook to write the book?

610
00:25:22,700 --> 00:25:25,009
ANNE LONGFIELD: I think the answer to that is both.

611
00:25:25,010 --> 00:25:27,769
ANNE LONGFIELD: We knew from the evidence that already

612
00:25:27,770 --> 00:25:30,829
ANNE LONGFIELD: existed. You look at any of the evidence,

613
00:25:30,830 --> 00:25:33,889
ANNE LONGFIELD: and the huge disproportionality

614
00:25:33,890 --> 00:25:36,949
ANNE LONGFIELD: of involvement of especially

615
00:25:36,950 --> 00:25:39,709
ANNE LONGFIELD: Black boys in so many of the aspects that

616
00:25:39,710 --> 00:25:41,539
ANNE LONGFIELD: we were talking about is just very clear

617
00:25:41,540 --> 00:25:44,089
ANNE LONGFIELD: to see. We'd also taken great attention of

618
00:25:44,090 --> 00:25:45,709
ANNE LONGFIELD: David Lammy's work around

619
00:25:45,710 --> 00:25:47,389
ANNE LONGFIELD: disproportionality in the criminal justice

620
00:25:47,390 --> 00:25:50,479
ANNE LONGFIELD: system. So many messages there that we

621
00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:53,659
ANNE LONGFIELD: were very, very aware of.

622
00:25:53,660 --> 00:25:56,869
ANNE LONGFIELD: But again, you don't

623
00:25:56,870 --> 00:26:00,439
ANNE LONGFIELD: have to look for long at the statistics

624
00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:02,239
ANNE LONGFIELD: that you find out or the conversations you

625
00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:06,079
ANNE LONGFIELD: have to know that

626
00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:09,259
ANNE LONGFIELD: this is something which is in plain sight.

627
00:26:09,260 --> 00:26:12,289
ANNE LONGFIELD: There is huge disproportionality here

628
00:26:12,290 --> 00:26:15,409
ANNE LONGFIELD: which leads you to then ask, well, at what

629
00:26:15,410 --> 00:26:18,799
ANNE LONGFIELD: point do we then recognise

630
00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:21,769
ANNE LONGFIELD: and understand that the systems we have

631
00:26:21,770 --> 00:26:23,269
ANNE LONGFIELD: aren't working for these kids?

632
00:26:23,270 --> 00:26:25,759
ANNE LONGFIELD: Often they're working against them.

633
00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:28,099
ANNE LONGFIELD: And why aren't the signs — whether you

634
00:26:28,100 --> 00:26:31,159
ANNE LONGFIELD: wanted to call it racial bias

635
00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:33,829
ANNE LONGFIELD: or whatever within the system — why aren't

636
00:26:33,830 --> 00:26:35,539
ANNE LONGFIELD: we more alert to this and why aren't we

637
00:26:35,540 --> 00:26:37,219
ANNE LONGFIELD: doing something about this?

638
00:26:37,220 --> 00:26:40,129
ANNE LONGFIELD: So if you look at children in care,

639
00:26:40,130 --> 00:26:41,659
ANNE LONGFIELD: if you look at children who are being

640
00:26:41,660 --> 00:26:43,129
ANNE LONGFIELD: excluded from school, if you look at

641
00:26:43,130 --> 00:26:44,449
ANNE LONGFIELD: children in YOIs (Young Offender
Institutions), if

642
00:26:44,450 --> 00:26:47,509
ANNE LONGFIELD: you look at young people who are

643
00:26:47,510 --> 00:26:50,569
ANNE LONGFIELD: part of the wider justice system, you

644
00:26:50,570 --> 00:26:52,129
ANNE LONGFIELD: can see there's an enormous

645
00:26:52,130 --> 00:26:55,069
ANNE LONGFIELD: disproportionality of boys in

646
00:26:55,070 --> 00:26:58,039
ANNE LONGFIELD: the system and Black boys as well.

647
00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:01,219
ANNE LONGFIELD: So that's a major theme throughout

648
00:27:01,220 --> 00:27:03,919
ANNE LONGFIELD: the book and one that we believe, and I

649
00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,769
ANNE LONGFIELD: believe, needs huge attention.

650
00:27:07,999 --> 00:27:10,219
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: We're nearly at the end of our time.

651
00:27:10,220 --> 00:27:13,579
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: But just to conclude, if you could do

652
00:27:13,580 --> 00:27:16,429
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: three things to improve the lot for

653
00:27:16,430 --> 00:27:17,627
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: children, what would you do and why?

654
00:27:19,010 --> 00:27:21,949
ANNE LONGFIELD: Well, I mean, the big thing

655
00:27:21,950 --> 00:27:25,819
ANNE LONGFIELD: is really to

656
00:27:25,820 --> 00:27:29,329
ANNE LONGFIELD: persuade our society, our government,

657
00:27:29,330 --> 00:27:32,419
ANNE LONGFIELD: that actually, as a country,

658
00:27:32,420 --> 00:27:36,079
ANNE LONGFIELD: we have choices that we can make

659
00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,169
ANNE LONGFIELD: about how we value children.

660
00:27:39,170 --> 00:27:40,729
ANNE LONGFIELD: If you look at some Scandinavian

661
00:27:40,730 --> 00:27:43,459
ANNE LONGFIELD: countries, decades ago they decided that

662
00:27:43,460 --> 00:27:45,559
ANNE LONGFIELD: children were an important part of our

663
00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:47,719
ANNE LONGFIELD: population, that if we helped children

664
00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,389
ANNE LONGFIELD: thrive, then actually we stand the chance

665
00:27:50,390 --> 00:27:53,539
ANNE LONGFIELD: of helping our society thrive, which

666
00:27:53,540 --> 00:27:55,609
ANNE LONGFIELD: has, of course, benefits not only for

667
00:27:55,610 --> 00:27:57,259
ANNE LONGFIELD: those children, but in terms of social

668
00:27:57,260 --> 00:27:58,849
ANNE LONGFIELD: issues and in terms of the economy,

669
00:27:58,850 --> 00:28:00,199
ANNE LONGFIELD: because we all want an economy that's

670
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,929
ANNE LONGFIELD: going to be active and productive and all

671
00:28:02,930 --> 00:28:04,459
ANNE LONGFIELD: the rest of it.

672
00:28:04,460 --> 00:28:07,789
ANNE LONGFIELD: We haven't almost dared to go there.

673
00:28:07,790 --> 00:28:12,199
ANNE LONGFIELD: That feels far too interventionist.

674
00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:15,289
ANNE LONGFIELD: Well, I think, during

675
00:28:15,290 --> 00:28:18,259
ANNE LONGFIELD: the pandemic, our support systems for

676
00:28:18,260 --> 00:28:19,999
ANNE LONGFIELD: children were given a good test and I

677
00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,559
ANNE LONGFIELD: don't think they fared very well.

678
00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,829
ANNE LONGFIELD: So I think there's a moment

679
00:28:24,830 --> 00:28:27,709
ANNE LONGFIELD: here where we can look to recommit

680
00:28:27,710 --> 00:28:30,889
ANNE LONGFIELD: ourselves to kids in a way that says

681
00:28:30,890 --> 00:28:32,479
ANNE LONGFIELD: as a nation, we think they're important.

682
00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:34,789
ANNE LONGFIELD: We need to put them first. Next to that is

683
00:28:34,790 --> 00:28:37,819
ANNE LONGFIELD: that when you do that, you think

684
00:28:37,820 --> 00:28:40,669
ANNE LONGFIELD: about children when you're thinking about

685
00:28:40,670 --> 00:28:44,209
ANNE LONGFIELD: your neighbourhood; the space that's

686
00:28:44,210 --> 00:28:46,399
ANNE LONGFIELD: taken up for children or given to

687
00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,579
ANNE LONGFIELD: children; the facilities that are there

688
00:28:49,580 --> 00:28:51,019
ANNE LONGFIELD: that are safe for children; the way we

689
00:28:51,020 --> 00:28:54,259
ANNE LONGFIELD: design our homes, especially social

690
00:28:54,260 --> 00:28:57,019
ANNE LONGFIELD: housing; the way that we design our parks,

691
00:28:57,020 --> 00:28:58,932
ANNE LONGFIELD: the way that we design our roads or

692
00:29:00,020 --> 00:29:02,749
ANNE LONGFIELD: non-roads, our public space, essentially.

693
00:29:02,750 --> 00:29:06,109
ANNE LONGFIELD: Imagine if we designed our area, our

694
00:29:06,110 --> 00:29:08,869
ANNE LONGFIELD: planning for public space in a way that

695
00:29:08,870 --> 00:29:09,870
ANNE LONGFIELD: was child-friendly.

696
00:29:10,670 --> 00:29:13,999
ANNE LONGFIELD: I would love us to consider

697
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,889
ANNE LONGFIELD: and put high on the list — and require

698
00:29:16,890 --> 00:29:20,059
ANNE LONGFIELD: even — children's needs to be built into

699
00:29:20,060 --> 00:29:22,259
ANNE LONGFIELD: all of the way that we design our country

700
00:29:22,260 --> 00:29:24,349
ANNE LONGFIELD: and the way it's established.

701
00:29:24,350 --> 00:29:26,899
ANNE LONGFIELD: Let's put forward places where children

702
00:29:26,900 --> 00:29:30,469
ANNE LONGFIELD: can safely play, be with each other,

703
00:29:30,470 --> 00:29:33,439
ANNE LONGFIELD: be children, enjoy childhood safely.

704
00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,469
ANNE LONGFIELD: The third is really to have

705
00:29:36,470 --> 00:29:38,989
ANNE LONGFIELD: an overriding commitment with the engine

706
00:29:38,990 --> 00:29:42,019
ANNE LONGFIELD: of government behind it to give all

707
00:29:42,020 --> 00:29:44,869
ANNE LONGFIELD: our kids the best chance possible and be

708
00:29:44,870 --> 00:29:48,109
ANNE LONGFIELD: ambitious for all our kids for

709
00:29:48,110 --> 00:29:50,989
ANNE LONGFIELD: a positive childhood and a positive

710
00:29:50,990 --> 00:29:54,769
ANNE LONGFIELD: scenario in terms of of our adult life.

711
00:29:54,770 --> 00:29:57,799
ANNE LONGFIELD: We know that childhood and experience

712
00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,289
ANNE LONGFIELD: of childhood sticks with you for life,

713
00:30:00,290 --> 00:30:01,669
ANNE LONGFIELD: good or bad.

714
00:30:01,670 --> 00:30:04,279
ANNE LONGFIELD: We have choices about the way we help

715
00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:07,429
ANNE LONGFIELD: children thrive as children and help

716
00:30:07,430 --> 00:30:10,879
ANNE LONGFIELD: them get that best start into life.

717
00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:12,649
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: That's fantastic. It's fantastic.

718
00:30:12,650 --> 00:30:14,899
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: And I just love that idea, that sense

719
00:30:14,900 --> 00:30:17,719
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: of, in a way, quite revolutionary

720
00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:19,519
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: perspective and ambition that we have

721
00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:21,979
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: for children which has come through

722
00:30:21,980 --> 00:30:24,379
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: there. And I love that idea about the

723
00:30:24,380 --> 00:30:26,479
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: design and the lens; let's look at

724
00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:28,489
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: the way we live through that

725
00:30:28,490 --> 00:30:30,012
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: perspective.

726
00:30:30,013 --> 00:30:31,459
ANNE LONGFIELD: It's about being ambitious.

727
00:30:31,460 --> 00:30:34,579
ANNE LONGFIELD: It's about, you know, valuing young lives,

728
00:30:34,580 --> 00:30:37,039
ANNE LONGFIELD: but also being ambitious for what we could

729
00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:39,409
ANNE LONGFIELD: do for those children, but also for what

730
00:30:39,410 --> 00:30:41,539
ANNE LONGFIELD: we want for our country. Why can't our

731
00:30:41,540 --> 00:30:43,069
ANNE LONGFIELD: country be the best place to grow up?

732
00:30:43,070 --> 00:30:45,619
ANNE LONGFIELD: We could make it so, and obviously, in my

733
00:30:45,620 --> 00:30:47,119
ANNE LONGFIELD: view, we should.

734
00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:49,199
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: What a great place to stop.

735
00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:51,019
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: I'd just like to thank you so much

736
00:30:51,020 --> 00:30:53,839
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: for for talking about 'Young Lives,

737
00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:55,249
WESLEY POWLEY-BAKER: Big Ambitions'.

738
00:30:55,250 --> 00:30:56,250
ANNE LONGFIELD: Thanks very much.

739
00:31:00,170 --> 00:31:02,539
OUTRO: Thanks for listening to this NSPCC Learning

740
00:31:02,540 --> 00:31:03,829
OUTRO: Podcast.

741
00:31:03,830 --> 00:31:06,469
OUTRO: At the time of recording, this episode's content

742
00:31:06,470 --> 00:31:09,109
OUTRO: was up to date, but the world of safeguarding and

743
00:31:09,110 --> 00:31:10,238
OUTRO: child protection is ever-changing.

744
00:31:11,450 --> 00:31:13,519
OUTRO: So if you're looking for the most current

745
00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:16,249
OUTRO: safeguarding and child protection training,

746
00:31:16,250 --> 00:31:19,249
OUTRO: information or resources, please visit

747
00:31:19,250 --> 00:31:21,561
OUTRO: our website for professionals at

748
00:31:21,562 --> 00:31:22,562
OUTRO: nspcc.org.uk/learning.