The Fair4Families campaign, led by charity 4Children, argues that families are a ‘major untapped resource’ that the Chancellor needs to put at the top of the agenda in this year’s spending review expected to take place before the end of June.
The last spending review was in October 2010 and detailed how much each department will spend between 2011 and 2015.
Fair4Families claims that families with children are facing an unprecedented squeeze on their finances as their household incomes decrease and the costs of everyday necessities increase. At the same time families are feeling an unprecedented ‘care squeeze’ as they try to meet the dual challenges of raising children and caring for elderly relatives.
However, they say that families should be seen as assets as they can contribute to the country’s economic and social recovery with the right support.
The supporters of the campaign, 14 organisations and charities including the Daycare Trust, National Day Nurseries Association and the National Childminding Association, are calling on the Chancellor to:
- shift spending from ineffective late intervention to early intervention;
- devise a credible strategy to begin to eradicate child poverty;
- greater invest in housing to give more people the chance to realise their dream of owning a home, and;
- protect crucial services for families with children from further cuts for the spending review period.
They have also sent a letter to the Chancellor urging him to invite families to 11 Downing Street so he can hear first hand about the daily challenges they are facing.
Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said, ‘Fair4Families speaks for the thousands of families who are reaching breaking point as a result of the rising cost of living and in many cases, falling household incomes. Families need a helping hand to get them through these hard times. This year’s Comprehensive Spending Review will be an important moment for families. They want the Chancellor to put families at the top of the agenda with a new ‘triple lock’ which will mean no further cuts to spending on services or benefits and a positive offer for the future on the big issues like housing and childcare.’
