More than 40 of the UK’s leading children’s charities and child development experts have issued a warning to the Covid-19 Enquiry chair of “unacceptable delays” to taking evidence from children on lockdown.
Save the Children UK, the NSPCC and the National Children’s Bureau are among the signatories of an open letter sent to inquiry chair the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett asking her to commission experts to start recording children’s experiences immediately.
This intervention comes as new research released in recent weeks reveals the scale of the damage to children’s social and emotional development during the pandemic, as well as impacting on their communication skills.
Dan Paskins, director of UK Impact at Save the Children said: “Children are being silenced by this inquiry. Despite repeated promises from chair, the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallet, she would urgently ensure children’s memories are captured and the issue matters to her, no measures are in place to make this happen.
The letter explains how there is still no clear public strategy and approach for listening to children and young people, especially those who experience inequalities or discrimination, nine months after this issue was first raised by Save the Children, Just for Law Kids and the Children’s Rights Alliance England.
The inquiry’s recent advertising campaign for Every Story Matters (ESM), and the accompanying website emphasised “that all stories are important, and all stories should be told by those who wish to tell them”.
However, neither the website nor the advertising campaign makes any mention that this is an adult only activity and there is no provision for under 18s.