We are respectful of the Every Child Matters initiative for England and Wales which guides our work
Every Child Matters (ECM) is a UK Government initiative for England and Wales, that was launched in 2003, at least partly in response to the death of Victoria Climbie. It is one of the most important policy initiative and development programmes in relation to children and children’s services of the last decade, and has been described as a “sea change” to the children and families agenda, leading to the Children Act 2004.
Every Child Matters covers children and young adults up to the age of 19, or 24 for those with disabilities. The main aims are for every child, whatever their background or circumstances, to have the support they need. It is proposed that this pioneering approach would help assist in reducing levels of educational failure, ill health, substance misuse, teenage pregnancy, abuse and neglect, crime and anti-social behaviour among children and young people.
When consulted as part of the initial Every Child Matters research, young people and families, wanted the Government to set out a positive vision of the outcomes we want to achieve. These five outcomes which mattered most to children and young people were became the guiding strands of the initiative:
- Being healthy: enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle
- Staying safe: being protected from harm and neglect
- Enjoying and achieving: getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood
- Making a positive contribution: being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour
- Economic well-being: not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life.
Since its inception Speke Environment Children’s Committee have kept these core principles close to its heart and used these objectives as a guide to help focus the work and services we provide in the local community.