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Can charity-run children's services keep up their good work when secure, long-term funding is denied? Simon Vevers reports The Government wants voluntary sector organisations to play a central role in helping to deliver the Every Child Matters agenda by working closely with children's trusts. Their role is flagged up, too, in the Action Plan for the ten-year childcare strategy, and the DfES wants them engaged in the extended schools and children's centres programmes.

The Government wants voluntary sector organisations to play a central role in helping to deliver the Every Child Matters agenda by working closely with children's trusts. Their role is flagged up, too, in the Action Plan for the ten-year childcare strategy, and the DfES wants them engaged in the extended schools and children's centres programmes.

Yet despite their rising profile and importance, there is growing disquiet among voluntary sector providers, large and small, over the sustainability of provision. New funding arrangements which have seen five funding streams brought together to create the single Children, Young People and Families grant are unlikely to quell this anxiety.

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