Childrens Fund Prevention Strategy

Ealing Children's Fund Strategic Partnership's vision
'We will work in partnership with each other, children, and their families, to improve quality of life for 5-13 year olds in Ealing who need help to fulfil their potential, access opportunities, and have their voice heard, whatever their background and needs.'

The Children's Fund is one element of the Government's strategy to tackle child poverty and social exclusion. Ealing Children's Fund provides funding and support to community, voluntary and statutory groups in providing services for vulnerable children aged 5-13.

The programme has been running since April 2003 and reached over 1500 children and young people in its first year.

We are focused on:

preventation – early intervention and support
participation – child centred approach, promoting children's rights and giving children a say in developing services aimed at them
partnership – developing a strong network of support and 'joining hands' between services and to prevent children falling through the net

Our Children's Fund Prevention Strategy identifies five key themes:

refugees and new arrivals
school attainment and attendance
learning, behavioural and mental health issues
temporary accommodation
accessing preventive and health services

Over 30 projects, many run by community and voluntary groups, are being supported to deliver services under each theme. Youth crime prevention projects receive 25% of the budget. Projects include peer-mentoring schemes, computer clubs, holiday play schemes and a mobile activity service for children living in temporary accommodation.

The government has recently extended the Children's Fund until 2008, and the partnership is currently putting in place a three-year strategy, which will focus on mainstreaming 'preventive' services in Ealing, through the developing Children's Trust.

The summary (pdf) and children's summary (pdf) – developed by children in the borough – includes a list of all projects.

For more information, including reports from independent local evaluators, please contact Kate Subanney, Children's Fund programme manager. Tel: (020) 8825 6897.