Having a good start in life with supportive parents and being encouraged to become involved in a wide range of activities are also important to children and young people to develop aspirations and achieve their potential.
Providing good support services to families early on will help prevent problems, stresses and challenges escalating and to facilitate agencies to work together to plan, commission and deliver services.
Uttlesford Children & Families group takes regard to the West Essex Children's Partnership Board (WECPB) three priorities linked to local needs and the overarching Essex Children, Young People and Families Plan:
Protect children and young people from harm
Early help and starting well
Investing in young people to play an active and full role in society
Effective Support for Children and Families in Essex
This guidance is for everyone who works with children and young people and their families in Essex. It is about the way we can all work together, share information, and put the child and their family at the centre, providing effective support to help them solve problems and find solutions at an early stage to prevent problems escalating. There may be times when the needs of the family are such that intensive or specialist statutory intervention is required.
The group is currently conducting a project aimed at improving the reading levels of Year 6 students. Working alongside the charity School readers, and with support from Volunteer Uttlesford, the project provides volunteers who listen to children read in schools on a 1-2-1 basis. So far, 26 volunteers have given up their time to help improve the literacy of local children, although there is capacity to do more - if you think you could volunteer for this worthwhile project, please contact the Volunteer Centre on 01799 510525 or email volunteer@volunteeruttlesford.org.uk.
Uttlesford Foodbank provides emergency food and care parcels to individuals and families during times of crisis. We operate out of our warehouse in Saffron Walden and have collection points for clients in Saffron Walden, Dunmow, Thaxted and Takeley.
