Leeds Offers Chance Of a Better Childhood for Vulnerable Children

John Battle launched the city-wide project – CHIVA (Children in Vulnerable Accommodation) – at the Lord Mayor’s Banqueting Hall, Leeds Civic Hall.

CHIVA, which is funded by the Leeds Children’s Fund and Leeds City Council, aims to help over 1,650 local Leeds children and their families over the next three years.

National charity Carr-Gomm will run the project which brings together statutory and voluntary agencies from across Leeds to provide a ‘joined-up’ package of support to help vulnerable children.

The project was set up following research into the needs of children in Leeds who were homeless or living in vulnerable accommodation. This found that children’s lives are often disrupted due to living in temporary accommodation.

Moving home and schools frequently makes it difficult for children to settle and make friends and for their parents to access the services they need. CHIVA will work closely with families to identify ways to overcome these barriers and to give these children the chance of a better childhood.

John said: “It is vital that those children in greatest need get the most help and resources – so we need good joined-up thinking to make sure we don’t let them down. In 2003, I launched the report ‘We’re just like other kids’ and I challenged our city of Leeds to tackle the causes of poor outcomes for homeless children. I am pleased to witness today how the city has responded to the needs of children living in difficult circumstances, and that the government has provided funding. I am certain that CHIVA will provide real and lasting benefits to those children most in need and deliver stability and the same life chances as others.”

Paul Bollom, CHIVA coordinator, said: “The children we work with frequently move from one place to another. CHIVA helps children and their families to overcome major obstacles that they can face, things we take for granted such as the stability of a home to call your own, an education, access to health care from a GP and developing social skills.

“We’ve listened to what homeless children said they wanted and have responded by providing a service that meets their needs where they can talk to someone confidentially and have a safe place to play. Our work is about early intervention and prevention to ensure that we help children long before they reach crisis point.”

Susan Rautenberg, Head of Service Planning and Development (Children and Families) for Leeds’ PCTs said: “Services for children in Leeds are undergoing a big change. We are working towards joined-up services that deliver what children and families want. By working together we can offer services that are better targeted to their needs. CHIVA is a great example of a partnership approach to helping 'hard to reach' children who might otherwise miss out on the chance to have a positive experience of growing up.”

The report, 'We're Just Like Other Kids', June 2003, focuses on research into the needs of parents and children in east Leeds but highlights problems experienced by children in hostels and B&Bs across the country. To download a copy click here:

http://www.carr-gomm.org/press/files/Just_like_other_kids-full_Leeds_report.pdf

The Children's Fund is a Government initiative supported by the Children and Young People's Unit and funds projects/ organisations working with children and young people aged 5 – 13 or their families. The Fund supports projects that fit one or more of the following themes; aspirations and experience, economic disadvantage, isolation and access, children's voices.

©John Battle MP 01 February 2005