Lobbying and Campaigns
 4Children (and Kids’ clubs Network before it) is an active, campaigning organisation; lobbying government, parliamentarians and the wider policy sector, on behalf of children, young people and families.
Drawing on our experience and knowledge of the needs of children and parents and backed up by strong evidence and tireless argument, we seek to put the needs of children, young people and families at the heart of the political and public debate.
To view details of all our latest lobbying and campaigning activity, follow the links below.
Campaign History
Out of Schools Clubs for Children
Transforming Opportunities for Teenagers
Campaign history
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1992: Kids' Club Network successfully lobbies the Government to invest in out of school childcare |
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1993: The £45m Out of School Childcare Initiative is launched |
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1995: Kids' Club Network produces the Next Steps for School Age Childcare - a strategy demanding £250 million to develop 5,000 clubs by 2000 |
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1997: The New Opportunities Fund launches its £200m out of school childcare programme to provide start up and sustainability grants |
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1998: The Government's launches its National Childcare Strategy, which embraces our approach following intensive lobbying |
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2001: Kids’ Clubs Network’s Millenium Childcare Commission reports calling for 10,000 Childrens Centres |
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2002: Kids' Club Network produces its Next Steps for School Age Childcare, calling for 20,000 clubs by 2010 |
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2002: The Government announces new funding of over £200 million for start up and sustainability support for out of school childcare - this time from central government. Additionally, funding for 1,000 Children’s Centres is announed. |
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2003: Kids' Clubs Network publishes research showing there are now over 10,000 clubs in England - a club for almost every other school in the country.
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For more information, please click here. |
Out of School Clubs for Children -
Next Steps
‘The Next Steps for School Age Childcare’ sets out our vision for the creation of 20,000 out of school clubs by 2010 – one at or near every school in the country.
‘Next Steps’ includes ten key steps needed to implement our vision into practice, including;
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Greater financial support for parents; |
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Sustainability support for clubs in disadvantaged areas; |
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A closer partnership with schools; |
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Extra provision for older children; |
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Developing the childcare workforce; |
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Establishing a more secure childcare infrastructure both locally and nationally.
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For more information, please click here. |
Transforming Opportunities for Teenagers -
Make Space
Make Space is a national campaign that aims to transform out of school opportunities for teenagers. Launched in October 2002, in partnership with the Nestle Trust, Make Space provides set up grants and a range of advice and support services to help local people improve provision for young people in their community.
The Make Space campaign aims to create 3,000 modern, lively and safe clubs, which have young people themselves at the centre. Nearly 18 months into the campaign, we have over 400 members working towards approved Make Space status and two ‘model’ Clubs demonstrating best practice already open.
Make Space has an active public affairs programme aimed at securing financial and political support for modern youth provision. If you support our campaign, then encourage your MP to sign Early Day Motion 226 – ‘Make Space Manifesto’ and lobby them to put better services for young people at the top of the political agenda
For more information, please click here.
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