The Charity CEO Podcast Ep 43. Mark Russell, CEO The Children's Society: Fighting for Hope and Happiness
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Jul 3, 2023 Mark Russell, CEO of The Children's Society, discusses the fight for hope and happiness for young people in the UK, exploring topics such as the UK government's Illegal Migration Bill and the low well-being rates of British children. He sets out the goal of overturning the decline in children's well-being by 2030 and emphasizes the importance of investing in children's emotional and mental health. The chapter descriptions include the origins of The Children's Society, advice for becoming a CEO, the role of volunteers, and the need for a society that prioritizes children's well-being.
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Why UK Child Wellbeing Is Declining
- The Good Childhood Report shows 85% of children are happy but the proportion with deep unhappiness has doubled in a decade, signalling a worsening wellbeing crisis.
- Causes include a pressured education system, housing affordability fears and the UK's highest child poverty levels (4.3 million children reported).
Migration Bill Threatens Child Safeguards
- The Illegal Migration Bill risks creating a two-tier protection system by removing many children's rights to claim asylum and treating refugee children differently under safeguarding.
- Russell warns of containment pending age assessments and cites 850 young people wrongly identified as adults last year, increasing safeguarding risks.
Use Safe Routes To Stop Dangerous Crossings
- To reduce dangerous Channel crossings, the government must create reliable safe routes so traffickers are put out of business and asylum claims are assessed properly.
- Russell points out Ukrainians and Afghans use safe routes, showing routes deter boat crossings when delivered.