Visit to The Lighthouse
Last week we visited The Lighthouse, a brilliant multiagency safe space supporting children and young people in their recovery from sexual abuse and exploitation. Not only does The Lighthouse highlight the importance of access to local services to support victims of child sexual abuse, but it also highlights the brilliant work that can be done […]
Celebrating the RE Council’s 50th Anniversary
Draft speaking notes – speech to the RE Council Speech 3rd May 2023 Thank you so much. It’s a pleasure to be here with you today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the RE Council. I qualified as an RE teacher in 1991, after my degree in Theology and Philosophy at Heythrop College, University of London […]
Statement on government plans to tackle grooming
The Children’s Commissioner responds to the Government’s plans to create a new Grooming Gangs Taskforce to better protect children and young women from sexual abuse and exploitation. Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza said: “I welcome this focus on protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse, and I urge them to extend this […]
‘A lot of it is actually just abuse’- Young people and pornography
This paper, the first in a series of research reports, makes clear the urgent need to protect children from the harms of online pornography. It is my duty as Children’s Commissioner to champion young people’s views and voices, and to ensure that all children enjoy the freedom to grow up safely and happily, both online […]
Briefing to MPs on the Online Safety Bill
Briefing to MPs on the Online Safety Bill Next week is the Second Reading of the Online Safety Bill. As Children’s Commissioner, I have convened the 15 leading children’s rights organisations and internet safety experts in the UK to tell you about our thoughts on it. I am writing to all MPs with views on […]
Archived Content
Anne Longfield: The Queen’s Speech and beyond
Any new Government has choices about the priority it gives to improving the lives of children and young people and the Queen’s Speech included a number of measures which make a positive start.
Speech
Anne Longfield: Why is PSHE so important?
What is PSHE and why is it so important?
‘If only someone had listened’
Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups
‘I thought I was the only one in the world’
Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation In Gangs and Groups
Does mentoring work?
The recent tragic murders in London have again brought home how urgently we need to do more to stop young people joining gangs and becoming involved in violent crime. The drugs trade is absolutely ruthless. It grooms children, uses them and then discards them. The police have told me that the level of violence behind […]
Anne Longfield comments on UK Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s Annual Report
On the rare occasions that children and young people are trafficked into England they suffer horrendous exploitation which can leave deep scars on their lives – whether they are sexually exploited, forced to work on cannabis farms or endure other forms of debt bondage.
Anne Longfield’s response to the Government’s announcement that PSHE lesson (life skills) will not be made compulsory
Children face many challenges as they grow up and navigate the world and relationships, and unfortunately some face real dangers such as sexual exploitation and abuse, which is why it is disappointing that life skills will not be made a compulsory part of the school curriculum.
Guest Blog from Dawn Rees, Principal Policy Adviser: Future in Mind
The Mental Health Task Force set out a strong health-economics platform for improving the emotional health and wellbeing of children – 75% of adult mental health problems start by the age of 18.