Every Child Matters

Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a new approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19.

This brochure is produced by Hampshire’s Children’s Services Department, which was formed by combining Children’s Social Services and the former Education Department. Our role is to ensure that all children aged 0 to 19 (especially those who are vulnerable and have extra needs) have the opportunities that will help them achieve the most that they can in life. This Change for Children programme shows how we will work with other agencies, such as the NHS, the police, district councils and the voluntary sector, to deliver the best possible support to children, young people, their families and carers. These partners have written a Children and Young People’s Plan, which identifies improvements to outcomes for children. There are also a number of important investments in services over the next few years, including 53 children’s centres to support early years education and child care; developing every school to be an extended school; offering a better range of out-of-school activities; and changes to the 14–19 curriculum in conjunction with colleges.

The Government’s aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to:

• Be healthy

• Stay safe

• Enjoy and achieve

• Make a positive contribution

• Achieve economic well-being.

The department is working with its partners to deliver these outcomes for children in Hampshire. We have summarised the areas that we have targeted for improvement below: for more information on this work and other aspects of the Change for Children programme in Hampshire, please visit our directory of information about services for families, which you can find at www.hantsfish.org.uk

Areas targeted to improve outcomes for children and young people

Be healthy	Stay Safe	Enjoy and achieve	Make a positive contribution	Achieve economic well being
Increased access to excellent general health care provision Increased healthy eating and physical activity and reduce obesity Increased availability of mental health services Improve sex and relationship education and reduce teenage pregnancies Reduce substance misuse	Improve safety awareness and child protection Increased prevention work to reduce youth crime, anti-social behaviour and exclusion Increased the identification, protection and support for those affected by domestic violence Reduce the incidence of bullying	Increased access to excellent general education Increased number of children and young people in school and improve support for those not in school Increased opportunities for play, leisure and recreation	Increased accessibility and quality of information services Increased access to volunteering opportunities Increased number of positive images of children and young people in the media	Increased vocational and work related learning opportunities for 14 – 19 age group Improve transport options and reduce costs Improve the housing arrangements for those in unsuitable accommodation