Central Bedfordshire is one of the 10 areas in England where the data shows childhood is least challenging, according to a major new report from the Children’s Commissioner for England.
The Childhood Lottery, published today, draws on 162 measures of children’s lives, from education, health and family life to community safety and children’s own views. It uses 96 of these to score every upper-tier local authority in England. Central Bedfordshire scored 677 out of a possible 960, placing it ninth nationally.
The report is clear that these scores are not a measure of council performance. They reflect a wide range of factors, including child poverty, policing and health services.
Cllr Mackey, our Executive Member for Children and Families, said:
It’s good to see Central Bedfordshire recognised as a place where children tend to have a positive start in life. This result is down to far more than the council. I’m grateful to everyone who helps make that possible. Schools, health services, the police, the voluntary and community sector, and above all families and young people themselves all play a part, and we’re fortunate to have strong partnerships across Central Bedfordshire.
The report is a reminder that the council’s role is to work alongside those partners to help create the conditions in which children can thrive. We also know that averages can hide differences within an area, and that not every child or family here has the same experience. We’ll keep listening to young people and working with our partners to understand where more can be done.