Manifesto gives children a voice in the election

THE Together Trust, based in Cheadle, is supporting Children England to push the Children’s Manifesto in the run up to the general election.

Children can’t vote in the general election, but the trust aims to establish what they would say if they could.

Chief executive of the Together Trust and trustee at Children England, Mark Lee, joined members of children’s voluntary organisations across the UK to discuss a list of key demands ahead of the preelection debates.

The worry is that the election will be fought and won on platforms that barely mention children except in terms of the academic achievement.

The 35-point children’s manifesto covers topics including special needs and disability, looked after children, benefits and housing, family, health, justice, refugee and migrant children and schools.

Mark said: “We are concerned that the main campaigning topics will be party leadership and Brexit and children’s issues will be left off the agenda. Children England created a manifesto in 2015, which we feel is very much still relevant for the forthcoming election.

“The manifesto highlights the priorities for children and young people across the country and we are hoping to get families involved by encouraging them to approach their local candidates.”

The campaign is also asking for parents, carers and professionals working with children to get involved by speaking to young people in their care and posting their concerns on social media using the hashtag #ChildrenAtHeart.

Policy and campaigns manager at Children England, Chloe Darlington, said: “Children’s priorities should be heard in a local and national democracy.

“A society that has children at heart is a better society for everyone - so every government policy should consider how it will affect children.”