Influencing Social Policy
The history of Children North East has been closely associated with many innovative social developments over the last 125 years. From the beginning our work was informed by the growing Fresh Air Movement in the 19th Century. Our Co-Founder John T. Lunn was instrumental in the implementation of Free School Meals through the 1906 Education (Provision of Meals) Act. We provided support to young people when they left our care homes in 1970s when such support was uncommon and in the 1990s we enabled families in rural places to access support services.
Today we continue to base our services on the voices and needs of children and young people and work with them to make sure their voice is heard by decision makers. We have committed to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and campaign on issues such as School Holiday Hunger and the impact that Child Poverty has on the lives of children and young people in the region.