Barnardos welcomes Budget 2018 and the positive impact it will have on children

Barnardos says that Budget 2018 will help children in Aotearoa New Zealand shine brighter.

Jeff Sanders, Chief Executive, says Barnardos welcomes the Government’s commitment to making Aotearoa New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child. Mr Sanders says that “Barnardos is pleased to see the Government investing in a range of initiatives that are good for children. With Budget 2018, the Government has made strong investment in reducing child poverty, improving health and housing, strengthening education including early learning, and ensuring that the State care system and family violence services provide support to children, families and whānau in need.”

Mr Sanders says that “these are all things which will have a tangible positive impact for children. Taken together with the Government’s Families Package and investments previously announced through the mini-Budget last year, children in Aotearoa New Zealand stand to benefit from this Budget.”

Mr Sanders says that the Government’s investment in early learning, doctor’s visits, healthy and safe housing, and more support for children in State care demonstrates the Government’s commitment to making real change for children. Mr Sanders says that “childhood is a critical time for all of us. All children should have a positive start in life in their early years, be able to flourish and develop to reach their potential throughout childhood, and be supported in ways that work for them. Although deeper investment for children will still be needed over time, Budget 2018 is a strong start for children.”

Barnardos, which is New Zealand’s leading children’s charity and one of its oldest, provides a range of children’s social services on both a universal and specialist basis, early learning services through early learning centres and home-based networks, and advocates for the rights and wellbeing of all children in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Mr Sanders says that as a non-government partner to Government, Barnardos is working proactively to influence Government policy and spending for the benefit of children and their families and whānau. “We know that Government budgets are about choices, and the choices Government makes always affect children. Although the choices made through Budget 2018 will have a positive impact on many children, we know that more investment will be needed over time, to ensure every child in our country can have a positive start in life on an equal basis, and develop to realise their potential and shine bright”, Mr Sanders says.

Mr Sanders says that Barnardos looks forward to Budget 2019 which the Government has framed as a ‘Wellbeing Budget’. He says that Barnardos will be working with Government to ensure that non-government social sector organisations are fairly and sustainably funded as a top priority in Budget 2019, so that children and their families and whānau can receive the support they need, when and if they need it. Mr Sanders says that “Barnardos will also continue partnering with Government to deliver services that make a real difference in the lives of tamariki and whānau, and to help shape initiatives to reduce child poverty and to ensure children’s rights and wellbeing are at the centre of Government investment, policy and practice”.
ENDS

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