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Centre for Young Lives

@cfyounglives.bsky.social
1.2K followers 495 following 103 posts

We are an independent think tank and delivery unit dedicated to improving the lives of children, young people, and families. www.centreforyounglives.org.uk

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Reposted by Centre for Young Lives
Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
“This is not an invention, this is not a narrative, this is real”   Our first panel at #LabourPartyConference2026 gave a key insight into the potential when policymakers, academics, charities, and young people come together to make a difference when it comes to child and adolescent mental health.
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Today we’ve published the Young Creatives Commission Interim report – ‘Levelling the Pitch’, in partnership with Roundhouse Trust. www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
centreforyounglives.org.uk
Levelling the Pitch | Centre for Young Lives | News
Published: Young people's creativity is everywhere. Opportunities to develop it are not.
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Labour Women's Network @labourwomensnet.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
LWN are proud to be partnering with some amazing orgs for this Reception at #Lab26 Come share your views as we shine a light on opportunities to provide earlier, more effective support for women & girls www.lwn.org.uk/delivering_f... @cfyounglives.bsky.social
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Are you excited by the opportunity to join a fast-growing, influential think tank that champions vulnerable children and campaigns for lasting change? We're looking for an ambitious comms professional 👇 www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/about-us/job...
centreforyounglives.org.uk
Job Vacancy: Press & Communications Manager | Centre for Young Lives
£39,149 - £43,668
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
These are the sort of reforms we have been campaigning for over the last few years. This announcement is an important leap forward towards rebuilding a high achieving, high aspirations, high-quality education system that works for all children, wherever they grow up. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Schools to offer technical subjects to pupils from age 14, Burnham says
The government wants pupils to take courses like AI and manufacturing which are linked to local jobs.
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Future Minds Campaign @future-minds.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Very good to hear @andyburnham.bsky.social explicitly reference support for young people's mental health in his opening address - the first time any new PM has done so. The Future Minds campaign looks forward to working with government to prioritise and reform support for children's mental health.
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
We’ve published our annual State of the Nation report. What does it show? Despite progress in some areas, some of the most concerning forms of vulnerability – like deep poverty, housing insecurity or missing half of school – continue to rise…
centreforyounglives.org.uk
New report exposes the scale of childhood crisis facing Andy Burnham and warns “incremental change will no longer cut it” | Centre for Young Lives | Press Release
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Encouraging to hear young people among the very first priorities mentioned by PM @andyburnham.bsky.social, and the first time young people's mental health was explicitly referenced in an opening address. We stand ready to work with government to help deliver lasting change for children and families
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Great to see @schoolsweek.bsky.social following up on our paper from @jonnyuttley.bsky.social schoolsweek.co.uk/five-school-...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Five school reform recommendations for Burnham's government
Report from former MAT CEO calls for system 'based on collaboration, place and collective responsibility'
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Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
"Now is the time to be much more ambitious about using connected data to boost life chances for all children, wherever they are growing up." - Haroon Chowdry @cfyounglives.bsky.social Read the Connecting data report calling for a national devolved approach: tinyurl.com/cotn100726 #Connectingdata
Quote from Haroon Chowdry, Chief Executive of the Centre for Young Lives reads: Children’s lives don’t fit neatly into the silos 
that services are built around. Whether it's education, healthcare or child protection, if services can’t see the full picture then children fall through the gaps, and opportunities to help them are missed. This means worse outcomes, wasted potential and sometimes devastating harm.Quote from Haroon Chowdry, Chief Executive of the Centre for Young Lives reads: This report shows that the solutions already exist. Connected data can transform how we identify the needs of children and families, enabling better and earlier support - not just keeping children safe, but also delivering a better deal for children, public services and the economy.Quote from Haroon Chowdry, Chief Executive of the Centre for Young Lives reads: If the next Prime Minister wants to ensure all young people can do well, they must seize this moment to break up the silos holding back public services. Now is the time to be much more ambitious about using connected data to boost life chances for all children, wherever they are growing up.
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
More reading for the incoming Prime Minister, published today with our partners @childofthenorth.bsky.social.
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
What should incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s priorities be for our schools? Today we’re publishing a brilliant short report by our Visiting Fellow @jonnyuttley.bsky.social which calls for a new era of inclusive place-based education reform. www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
centreforyounglives.org.uk
New report urges Andy Burnham to end 40 years of school competition and calls for new era of place-based inclusion | Centre for Young Lives | Press Release
Published: The Centre for Young Lives think tank and education charity SHINE are today (Friday 10th July) publishing a new report, A New Settlement for Education: Why We Need a New Theory of Place-Bas...
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Sadly this has been happening for many years and it’s a scandal that needs to be ended. Care homes charging councils up to £28k a week per child www.thetimes.com/article/b34d...
thetimes.com
Care homes charging councils up to £28k a week per child
A part-time bouncer and a recruitment magnate are among the directors demanding ‘mind-boggling’ sums, as local authorities battle a shortage of suitable homes
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Alison Stenning @alisonstenning.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Are you working in the north of England to support children and young people’s play? @childofthenorth.bsky.social @cfyounglives.bsky.social would like to hear about your work. www.n8research.org.uk/what-we-do/r...
n8research.org.uk
Equitable Access to Play – Opportunities for Children and Young People in the North of England - N8 Research Partnership
Call for contributions to the report 'Equitable Access to Play: Opportunities for Children and Young People', which brings together case studies and stories that highlight the work of people supportin...
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
We’ve joined Substack. Our first post looks at our recent report on #looksmaxxing. open.substack.com/pub/centrefo...
open.substack.com
An easy pill to swallow: why looksmaxxing appeals to boys and young men
Ben Firth on our troubling new report on “looksmaxxing”.
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Our report on #looksmaxxing out today. www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
centreforyounglives.org.uk
Toxic “looksmaxxing” social media trend is pushing boys towards extreme body obsession, misogyny, and self-harm, Centre for Young Lives report warns | Centre for Young Lives | Press Release
Published: A new report from the Centre for Young Lives thinktank published today (Thursday June 25th) warns that the fast-growing online trend known as “looksmaxxing” is driving some boys and young m...
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Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Yesterday, we were proud to be in Parliament to launch the latest report from the Child of the North APPG: ‘Building a Preventative Mental Health System for Children and Young People’. www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/app/uploads/...
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Setting a minimum age of 16 on addictive social media apps is a vital first step. Parents and children want to see a digital world that works for them, not tech companies. The Govt must now stand firm in the face of tech industry lobbying and stay the course to protect children and young people.
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
During 2025 and early 2026, we partnered with @mission44.bsky.social 44 to host a nationwide series of events aimed at helping schools and their partners become more ambitious about inclusion. Here's just a flavour of the brilliant ideas and best practice we heard about.
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Early Education and Childcare Coalition @coalitionedcare.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
We were pleased to contribute to a new @cfyounglives.bsky.social report on achieving the Government's school readiness target as members of its expert advisory group. The report highlights the need for stronger early years systems and urgent action to tackle inequality. bit.ly/4gazHVp
bit.ly
New Report from the Centre for Young Lives: Government needs to do more than set a target if it is going to improve school readiness | Centre for Young Lives | Press Release
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
We've published a new report, ‘Starting Well: Lessons from local areas on how to ensure all children are school ready’. Drawing on interviews with local authorities, we highlight what is working to improve early years outcomes and the barriers. www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
centreforyounglives.org.uk
New Report from the Centre for Young Lives: Government needs to do more than set a target if it is going to improve school readiness | Centre for Young Lives | Press Release
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Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Call for contributions. In partnership with the @cfyounglives.bsky.social we are inviting contributions to a new report, and would like to hear from anyone who is involved in supporting children and young people’s play. Learn more👇 We'd love to hear from you. DL 31 Aug. Please share!
n8research.org.uk
Equitable Access to Play – Opportunities for Children and Young People in the North of England - N8 Research Partnership
Call for contributions to the report 'Equitable Access to Play: Opportunities for Children and Young People', which brings together case studies and stories that highlight the work of people supportin...
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Alan Milburn’s report puts to bed the nonsense that this is a ‘Snowflake Generation’ unwilling and unable to work. The reality is there are hundreds of thousands of young people not in education, employment or training who want to get into work but are being held back. www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Young people and work: interim report
The young people and work report is an independent review of the increase in the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
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Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
The Government announced today that it has reached its target of 8500 new mental health workers in England. This is welcome but we need more, and a workforce plan to address the mental health crisis. Read our response from @andybell-centremh.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/posts/centre...
linkedin.com
The Government announced today that it has met its target to recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers in England. Welcome news, but is it enough? Responding to the announcement from the… | Cent...
The Government announced today that it has met its target to recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers in England. Welcome news, but is it enough? Responding to the announcement from the Departm...
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A Reader of the FT @a-reader-ft.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
… think-tank @cfyounglives.bsky.social says: “We talk about the time children spend on their phones, but we don’t talk about alternatives.”
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A Reader of the FT @a-reader-ft.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Why London’s teens need more third spaces— Sometimes it feels like young people are either demonised for staying in — or going out. @conniemuttock.bsky.social the head of policy at… www.ft.com/content/89c7... @emmavj.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
ft.com
Why London’s teens need more third spaces
At a time when young people are either demonised for staying in or going out, youth clubs are more important than ever
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Very important progress and something we’ve been campaigning for. We await the details. news.sky.com/story/social...
news.sky.com
Education secretary says social media restrictions for under-16s will be introduced
The Conservatives have been calling for a ban on under-16s using social media for months and have accused the government of dragging its feet by holding a public consultation before doing anything.
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Brilliant to see @jackrooke.bsky.social win a BAFTA. Jack is a Commissioner on our Young Creatives Commission with Roundhouse and a true champion for widening access to the arts and culture. Spare a moment to listen to his great speech. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGKn...
youtube.com
Jack Rooke wins the Writer: Comedy BAFTA for Big Boys | BAFTA TV Craft Awards
YouTube video by BAFTA
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
We've published new research and recommendations to tackle the NEET crisis.
centreforyounglives.org.uk
Turning the Tide on Rising Young NEETs: New report from Centre for Young Lives sets out a new vision for a system-wide approach to shifting the dial on young people not in education, employment or tra...
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
We're really pleased to see recommendations from our Raising the Nation Play Commission - on No Ball Games signs and play friendly school uniforms - backed by the DCMS Select Committee in its new report 'Game On'. committees.parliament.uk/committee/37...
committees.parliament.uk
Game On: MPs call for new focus and funding to get nation moving more - Committees - UK Parliament
A renewed commitment to PE in schools, ending the 3pm Saturday blackout for women’s football and the removal of unnecessary ‘No Ball Games’ signs are among the recommendati...
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Parent Zone @parentzone.org.uk · 15/04/2026
Haroon Chowdry, Chief Executive of @cfyounglives.bsky.social, joins us on Tech Shock to ask whether a social media ban is the right answer, or if we need to shift the burden of proof onto the platforms themselves. www.buzzsprout.com/1739115/epis...
buzzsprout.com
Spring Special Episode 3: Haroon Chowdry: ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ - Tech Shock - from Parent Zone
This week in our special episodes examining the arguments for and against the social media ban, Vicki speaks to Haroon Chowdry, Chief Executive of the Centre for Young Lives.The Centre for Young Lives...
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
We're very pleased to be joining a range of organisations backing a new joint Statement of Principles to protect children from the preventable harms and exploitation online. www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
linkedin.com
Joint Statement of Principles | Centre for Young Lives
We're very pleased to be joining a range of organisations backing a new joint Statement of Principles. It provides a baseline for a decisive, ambitious and proportionate legislative initiative to prot...
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
We’re launching a major new project, funded by The JABBS Foundation for Women and Girls, which will harness open data to understand the scale and nature of risks facing children, young people and vulnerable women and girls. www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
centreforyounglives.org.uk
Centre for Young Lives launches new Vulnerability Index project to transform support for families, women, and girls, and to refocus Government attention on to vulnerable children | Centre for Young Li...
The Centre for Young Lives has announced the development of a reimagined Vulnerability Index, a major new project that will harness open data to understand the scale and nature of risks facing childre...
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Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Last week, academics from @officialuom.bsky.social, @merseycarenhs.bsky.social, and @liverpooluni.bsky.social presented evidence in Parliament to the Child of the North APPG, informing their next report on children's mental health and wellbeing. @marykfoymp.bsky.social 1/2
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
We’re calling for a rise in the age children can use social media from 13 to 16. Our report warns that the debate on social media regulation has become a false choice between age limits and platform design reform, when both are needed urgently. www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
centreforyounglives.org.uk
Centre for Young Lives report calls on MPs to reclaim childhood and break the stranglehold of big tech by voting to limit social media to over 16s | Centre for Young Lives | Press Release
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martinbarrow.bsky.social @martinbarrow.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Bolton Council says new early intervention schemes have reduced spending in children’s services by over £1 million www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/2590406...
theboltonnews.co.uk
Children's services overspend cut by over a million through early intervention
Bolton Council has celebrated new early intervention schemes for reducing the budget spend in children’s services by over a million.
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Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Pleased to see Child of the North & @cfyounglives.bsky.social analyses cited in the new independent report on supporting neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream settings. You can access our reports via the N8 Research Partnership's website: www.n8research.org.uk/research-foc...
gov.uk
Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group: report
The conclusions and recommendations of the independent review into ways to support neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream education settings.
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Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Alongside @cypmentalhealth.bsky.social @cfyounglives.bsky.social, Young Minds and Prudence Trust, we've developed a roadmap setting out a clear, evidence-informed plan to deliver transformative change to children and young people’s mental health. We need decisive Government action: bit.ly/4rbJjBt
bit.ly
Future Minds: A roadmap to transform children and young people’s mental health by 2035 - Centre for Mental Health
The Future Minds roadmap puts forward concrete solutions to transform children and young people’s mental health.
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Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Proud to see Child of the North’s evidence shaping national SEND reform. Yesterday's event highlights how connected data can deliver the change children need. With a strong call from our Whitehall colleagues for more collaboration, we look forward to next steps. #SEND #CotN
n8research.org.uk
Northern researchers and Whitehall unite to tackle the SEND crisis through connected data - N8 Research Partnership
On the day the government published its Every child achieving and thriving white paper on reforms to the schools and SEND systems in England, policymakers, researchers, clinicians and frontline practi...
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Our head of policy @conniemuttock.bsky.social takes a closer look at today’s White Paper 👇👇 www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
centreforyounglives.org.uk
Schools White Paper brings an ambitious plan to put inclusion at the heart of education | Centre for Young Lives | Blog
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Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Opening the Child of the North Data Showcase with Professor Mark Mon‑Williams, Baroness Anne Longfield CBE and Haroon Chowdry, setting out why SEND and connected data need to be considered together.   #CotN #SEND
Professor Mark Mon WilliamsBaroness Anne Longfield and Haroon Chowdry
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Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
A rich session showcasing data assets from across the North — #BeeWell, Born in Bradford, BaBi and C‑GULL — and how they can inform work on SEND and children’s outcomes.   #CotN #SEND Web links in thread👇🧵 @beewelluk.bsky.social @arc-yharc.bsky.social @livunichil.bsky.social
#BeewellPeter Day Professor of Children's Oral Health and Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, University of LeedsSally Bridges Programme Manager, NIHR ARC Yorkshire and HumberGary Leeming, University of Liverpool
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Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
How can connected data support better outcomes for children and young people with SEND? We’re in Manchester to share evidence on what’s possible when services safely link data. #CotN #SEND
A presentation on screen in a large conference room reads Child of the North Data Showcase - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and the power of connected data - 23 February 2026. Tables are laid out with notepads, pens and brochures.
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
The Government’s White Paper sets out an ambitious, much-needed, and very welcome direction of travel, which – if fulfilled – will transform the life chances of children who have been left behind for far too long. www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
💭 As the sector awaits the long-delayed SEND reforms, many schools have started to work together to create more inclusive environments. We spoke to three schools leading the way... schoolsweek.co.uk/sharing-not-siloe…
schoolsweek.co.uk
The special schools bringing inclusion into the mainstream
Ministers want 'a system that works together'. Schools Week meets three schools leading the way
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
This is really important and very welcome, and something we have been campaigning for since 2021. It can save lives. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Children who carry knives to get support earlier in England and Wales
David Lammy announces mandatory support and mentoring plan in wake of two stabbings at a school in Brent, north-west London
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
We’re really excited to be launching our new Young Creatives Commission in partnership with Roundhouse Trust, the iconic London venue and youth charity. www.youngcreativescommission.org/news/launch-...
youngcreativescommission.org
Launch of the “Young Creatives Commission” brings together top cultural talent for new national inquiry to boost young people’s access to arts, culture and the creative industries
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
This is excellent news www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news...
nurseryworld.co.uk
Sue Robb made Government's Best Start in Life Champion - Nursery World
Early childhood pedagogy expert Sue Robb, who was involved with the introduction of the EYFS in 2008, has been appointed as the Government’s Best Start in Life Champion.
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
The right direction of travel. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
Ministers to crack down on profiteering in care sector and make renewed fostering push
Josh MacAlister issues warning as government launches £88m ‘call to arms’ to find homes for 10,000 foster children
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Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Today the Bill to end the two-child limit starts its journey through Parliament. The policy is responsible for driving child poverty to its current record high, and we are glad it is being abolished. We join many other organisations to urge all MPs to support this Bill.
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