At the Young NCB Advisory Group (YNCB) meeting in March, YNCB discussed the Children at the Table Campaign. Children at the Table is a campaign of over 140 children’s charities led by NCB, NSPCC, Barnardo’s, Action for Children, and The Children’s Society.
The main aim of the campaign is to put children and the issues that affect them at the heart of the debate in the general election coming up in 2024.
The campaign believes that every child, regardless of their background, their parents’ or carers’ income, or their postcode, deserves the best possible start in life and early access to support throughout their childhood and teenage years. It is calling for the next UK Government to put babies, children, and young people at the heart of Government decision making, backed by a big increase in investment and funding to transform childhoods across the UK.
During the meeting, YNCB thought about writing letters to their own MPs about issues that matter to them. Firstly, the group looked at what a good letter looks like and how they might apply this to their own letter, and then discussed topics that they might focus on. The group thought specifically about matters which are important to them and believe their local MP should be aware of.
Both Emma and Jack wrote to their MPs following the meeting asking them to support the Children At The Table campaign. After writing their letters, Emma and Jack provided us with their motivation for writing the letter.
Jack, YNCB Member
"My decision to reach out to my MP was driven by a deep concern for the alarming number of children living in poverty across our country. It's disheartening to see so many young lives affected by circumstances beyond their control, especially in one of the wealthiest nations in the world. By writing to my MP and urging for action in Parliament, I aim to emphasise the urgent need for increased government investment in addressing child poverty. I believe that spending on early intervention and prevention is really important for improving the lives of vulnerable children and ensuring a more equal society. I hope that this inspires other young people to do the same, showing how by working together as a collective group we can bring about positive change."
Emma, YNCB Member
"I wrote a letter to my MP asking him to support our campaign Children At The Table. I think it is important that children have an opportunity to voice their concerns, because as an MP he represents us too, and the decisions he makes today are important for our future. I think is important to advocate for things we care about, and writing a letter does not take a lot of time, but it can help make a difference."
If you want to learn more about Children At The Table, or find help to write a letter to your MP, here are some resources where you can find more information about the campaign and how to get involved:
- Campaign website: Children at the Table
- Video: Children at the Table: a children's charities coalition campaign