We are individuals and organisations who came together to defend the rights of vulnerable children and young people during the passage of the Children and Social Work Act 2017.
The story of our 2016-17 campaign in England is below. After our success, we stayed together, as a loose network, to continue to defend the social care rights of children, young people and families. Article 39 children’s rights charity co-ordinates the network. In 2019, we had another great result with the removal of a so-called ‘myth-busting’ guide, published by the Department for Education. Visit the ‘latest’ section of our site for more information.
Please note: our campaign is not part of Together for Children SUNDERLAND Ltd.
Our successful campaign against the exemption clauses
We wanted the exemption clauses to stay out of the Children and Social Work Act 2017 because they threatened to remove or change vital, universal duties which have evolved over many decades to meet the needs and protect the rights of vulnerable children and young people. Had they passed into law, the exemption clauses would have allowed councils to opt-out of their legal duties towards vulnerable children and young people. When the Government first published the clauses, it even wanted to have the power itself to remove duties from councils.
After months of campaigning, we succeeded!
On the evening of 2 March 2017, Parliament published a document showing the Education Secretary Justine Greening had added her name to amendments to LEAVE OUT the clauses for good. This was passed on 7 March.
On 27 April 2017, Royal Assent was granted to the legislation – without the exemption clauses!
When legal duties towards children exist, courts can ultimately decide if there has been a failure to implement them. They can force local authorities to give support and services. We know from our work with children and young people that sometimes the threat of legal action is the only means of getting help for them. Without legal duties, vulnerable children and young people could be left stranded.
Throughout our long months of campaigning, the Government offered no evidence that Acts of Parliament or regulations get in the way of meeting children’s needs. Nor did Ministers explain what is wrong with the customary practice of carefully refining and improving legislation – and repealing redundant laws – when this is necessary.
Innovation and creativity in children’s social care are vital and necessary. However, allowing local authorities to pick-and-choose their legal duties towards children is a dangerous idea that would have fundamentally undermined the rule of law.
There was no consultation on these radical changes. The relaxation of social care duties area-by-area was not in the Conservatives’ general election manifesto. More than 80 years of legislation made for children was endangered.
We could not stand by and watch the destruction of decades of commitments to children. That is why we campaigned for the removal of the exemption clauses from the Children and Social Work Bill.
Together, we protected the social care rights of children and young people.
Organisations
Article 39
ASD Helping Hands
Association of Independent Visitors and Consultants to Children’s Services
Association of Lawyers for Children
Association of Professors of Social Work
Association of Youth Offending Team Managers
Become
Bringing Us Together
British Association of Social Workers
British Institute of Human Rights
The Care Leavers’ Association
Centre for Social Work Practice
Children’s Rights Alliance for England
Child Rights International Network
CoramBAAF
Coram Children’s Legal Centre
Coram Voice
Depaul UK
Dyspraxia Kids
The Fostering Network
Full of Life
Howard League for Penal Reform
The Independent Children’s Homes Association
Institute of Recovery from Childhood Trauma
INQUEST
Law Centres Network
Legal Action for Women
Legal Action Group
Liberty
Low Farm Therapy Centre
MAC-UK
Nagalro
Napo
National Association of Independent Reviewing Officers
National Association for People Abused in Childhood
National Association for Youth Justice
The National Autistic Society
The National Deaf Children’s Society
National Independent Visitor Network
NYAS
Parents of Traumatised Adopted Teens Organisation
Peer Power
Prison Reform Trust
Refugee Council
Siblings Together
Single Mothers Self Defence
South West London Law Centres
Standing Committee for Youth Justice
St. Michael’s Fellowship
Surviving Safeguarding
UNISON
Women’s Aid
Youth Access
Individuals
Professor Priscilla Alderson, University College London
Dr Lucille Allain, Associate Professor (Practice) Social Work, Middlesex University
Dr Raymond Arthur, Reader in Law, University of Northumbria
Dr Maggie Atkinson, consultant in leadership and children’s services improvement
Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green, former first Children’s Commissioner for England 2005-2010
Wendy Bannerman, Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Youth and Director of Right Resolution CIC
Sue Barker, retired social work manager & consultant
Jay Barlow, Napo National Vice-Chair (Cafcass)
Janet Beale, retired social worker
Georgia Bell, Student Nurse
Pete Bentley, Chair of Adoption Panel; former BAAF consultant
Chas Berry, National Vice Chair, Napo
Kayleigh Blackburn, Teacher
Tessa Bools, Parent Carer
Steve Broach, Barrister, Monckton Chambers
Jillian Bradley, Paediatric Rehabilitationist
John Bramwells, Father
Helene Brown, Child Protection Social Worker
Louise Buckenham, Occupational Therapist
Jan Burnell, Adoption Panel Member
Phil Bushell, Senior Social Work Practitioner
Bec Buss, Tutor in Social Work, Ruskin College; also Independent Reviewing Officer and Independent Chair
Jane Callaghan, Professor of Psychology, University of Northampton
Anne Carter, Analyst
Greg Ó Ceallaigh, Barrister
Claire Champkin, Parent
Ian Chisnall, Chair of Sussex Police Independent Advisory Group
Valerie Clark, Senior Solicitor, Youth Legal & Resource Centre
Katie Clarke, Bringing Us Together
Jenny Cockcroft, Social Worker
Jodie-Lee Collins, Human Resources Business Partner
Michele Collins, Primary teacher
Michael Cowell, Independent Reviewing Officer
Sarah Cowley DBE, Emeritus Professor, King’s College London
Jane Clarke, retired teacher and child protection worker for LB Haringey
Jenny Cockcroft, Social Worker
Bernadette Cullen, Founder: The Bike Rescue Project
Sarah Cummings, Parent
Jayne Davies, Undergraduate student (Criminology and Criminal Justice)
Dr Liz Davies, Emeritus Reader in Child Protection, London Metropolitan University
Peta Davies, Parent carer
Floyd Douglas, Independent Reviewing Officer
Eboney Ellington, Parent/Carer
Kathy Evans, Chief Executive, Children England
Victoria Ewer, Teacher and mother
Lindsey Evans, Mum
Clare Fay, Foster carer
Professor Brid Featherstone, University of Huddersfield
Erica Field, Parent
Wendy Finn, Mother and Founder of Dyspraxia Kids
Julia Furlong, Parent Carer
Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers
Jenny Garamszegi, Accountant
Bridget Garrood, Partner and collaborative family lawyer, Cartridges Law Solicitors
June Goh, Parent Carer
Professor Barry Goldson, Charles Booth Chair of Social Science, University of Liverpool
Ian Gould, Care leaver and retired Probation Manager
N Griffith, Mother and former Community Nurse in Health Visiting
Dr Anna Gupta, Senior Lecturer in Social Work, Royal Holloway University of London
Sophie Harbutt, Teacher
Dr Alex Hassett, Principal Lecturer and Senior Consultant, Canterbury Christ Church University
Emma Haughey, Mother
Laura Hawcroft, Mother
Christine Hope, Parent
Catrin Jenkins, Parent
Sam Jennings, Care leaver
Professor Ray Jones, Kingston University and St George’s, University of London
Sarah Jones, Parent Carer
Verity Jowett, Parent
Veronique Kaboha, Expert by experience for NHS care and treatment reviews
Mark Keeley, Independent Social Work and Management
Susan Kellett, Carer
John Kemmis, Patron of National Association of Independent Reviewing Officers; former CEO Voice (retired)
Nicola Kenney, Co-Chair, Family Court Section of Napo, the Trade Union and Professional Organisation for Family Court and Probation staff
Dr Mark Kerr, Lecturer in Social Policy, University of Kent at Canterbury
Victoria Kerr, Teacher
Amalia Key, Parent/carer
Joanne Kimm, Teaching Assistant
Alice Korikk, Child Psychologist
Jane Laing, MA Social Work Course Leader, University of Sheffield
Liz Leech, Parent
Sallie Leveridge, Mother and Grandmother
Gina Lightfoot, Independent Conference and Reviewing Officer
Stella Lithgow, former teacher
Lisa Longmore, Mother
Audrey Ludwig, Director of Legal Services Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equality
Craig Mathieson, former social worker and registered children’s home manager, now studying Law to represent sick disabled children
Yolanda McCarthy, Mother
Jillian McCormick, Adopter
Jane McCready, Parent campaigner
Rev’d Claire McIlroy, Church of England Priest
Kirsten Melbourne, Supported Housing Officer
John Melling, Independent Reviewing Officer
Jenny Molloy, BASW England Patron
Julie Moore, Mother
Ella Montgomery-Smith, Youth Worker
Kate Morris, Professor of Social Work, University of Sheffield
Jean Morrison, Independent Reviewing Officer
Angela Mortimer, Teacher
Kev Murphy, Independent Consultant SEND
Manish Nanda, Carer
Anna Neale, Teacher
Catherine Newell, Brownie leader
Susan Nicholls, Mother
Gemma Ogilvie, Lunchtime Supervisor
Fay Oldroyd, Social Work Student
Peter Osborne, Grandfather
Caroline Page, County Councillor for Woodbridge, Suffolk
Dave Palmer, Lecturer in Criminal Justice Services, University of Northampton
Bridget Parkinson, SENCo St John the Baptist RC Primary School
Chris Pearson, Colchester Borough Councillor
Elaine Pearson Scott, Consultant and Independent Visitor
Paula Pennells, Mother / Carer
Sue Redmond, Vice Chair, Full of Life Charity
Keith Riach, Independent Reviewing Officer
Beth Ridley, Teacher
Kathryn Riley, Independent Reviewing Officer
Louise Robinson, Mother
Sam Rospigliosi, Mum
Sara Rowbotham, Local Councillor and Social Worker
Wendy Jane Ryan, Therapist
Jessie Saunderson, Mother
Jasmine Shadrack, Senior Lecturer in Popular Music, University of Northampton
Deanne Shaw, Parent Carer
Leanne Shaw, Parent
Phin Silberrad, Parent
Olivia Sowah, Parent
Jo Smith, Meldreth Preschool
Roger Smith, Professor of Social Work, University of Durham
Louise Somerville Williams, Mother
Dr Jo Staines, Senior Lecturer and Programme Director, BSc Childhood Studies, University of Bristol
Dave Stamp, Project Manager, Asylum Support & Immigration Resource Team
Mike Stein, Emeritus Professor, University of York
F Stone, Adopter
Janice Storey, Adoptive Mother of two
Tim Sugden, Independent Reviewing Officer
Andrew Swartfigure, Head of The Peartree Centre
Niamh Sweeney, Vice President, Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Helen Taylor, Social Worker
June Thoburn CBE, Emeritus Professor of Social Work, University of East Anglia
Dr Nigel Thomas, Professor of Childhood and Youth Research, University of Central Lancashire
Robyn Thomason, Mother
Ruaridh Thomason, Father
Judith Timms OBE
Mariana Toma, Nurse
Margaret Tully, Independent Reviewing Officer
Jane Tunstill, Emeritus Professor of Social Work, Royal Holloway, London University
Dr Tammy Valberg, Educational Psychologist
Ben van Wagtendonk, Independent Reviewing Officer
Kate West, Family Support Worker, Family Voice Sheffield
Tom West, Solicitor and Partner at Centenary Solicitors
Sue White, Professor of Social Work (Children and Families), University of Birmingham
Jane Whyte, Independent Social Worker
Jo Winship, Independent Reviewing Officer
Heather Woolley, Teacher and mother
Lyndsay Wootton, Social Worker
Ruth Wright, Social worker
Together for Children 