Services for children in several areas of England are described as being in a “state of emergency,” according to a report highlighting the hardest places in the country for young people to grow up. The findings reveal significant systemic failures in local authorities where children face extreme challenges that hinder their ability to thrive.
Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner, issued the warning after visits to schools, youth clubs, and young offender institutions across the country. She expressed deep concern over the conditions some children endure, describing some experiences as “utterly disgusting.” During a recent visit to Middlesbrough in the northeast, a 14-year-old girl recounted local crime statistics to de Souza—a situation she said children should not have to be aware of or have parents explain over dinner.
De Souza cited examples of services under strain, noting that schools at times have had to manage incidents such as drug overdoses and racist violence without sufficient support. The commissioner stressed the severity of the situation in some communities, which she said amounts to a litany of failures resulting in children being “radically failed.”
The analysis, based on over 160 indicators including child poverty rates, educational outcomes, community safety, NHS waiting times, and access to play areas, identifies several deprived areas as the most difficult places for children. These include Middlesbrough, Hounslow, Bradford, Nottingham, Halton, Peterborough, Leicester, Liverpool, Sunderland, and Medway. Comparatively, more affluent areas such as Cheshire East, Merton, Surrey, Richmond upon Thames, Hertfordshire, Cheshire West and Chester, Haringey, Leicestershire, Central Bedfordshire, and Wokingham rank as the least challenging environments for children to grow up in.
The report, titled The Childhood Lottery, notes a clear geographic divide, with southern regions generally scoring better on measures affecting children’s wellbeing, northern areas performing worse, and the Midlands falling in between. It underscores that issues such as safety, service delivery, and community conditions translate to real hardship for children, going beyond mere statistical indicators.
De Souza called for children’s welfare to be central to the government’s devolution agenda. She urged the establishment of national minimum standards for education, policing, health, and youth services. Additionally, she recommended creating a dedicated national fund to support areas failing to meet these standards. To ensure accountability, the report proposes that every strategic authority appoint a deputy mayor responsible for children’s services and implement a “children’s test” to evaluate how local policies impact young people.
The Department for Education responded by affirming its commitment to improving childcare, school standards, and empowering local leaders to shape education policy and services. The government’s response signals an acknowledgment of the challenges but stops short of committing to new national standards or funds at this stage.