Thousands of children, including young carers, face increased risk after government funding per child falls by a third since 2010

The recent report commissioned by a group of children’s charities reveals that government funding to children’s services has fallen by a third since 2010.

Areas where Honeypot provides services to large numbers of young carers have been worst hit by funding cuts. In London boroughs, funding has fallen by 52%, and by 45% in Greater Manchester, a feeder area for Honeypot House in Wales.

Chief Executive of Honeypot, The National Young Carers Organisation, Simmi Woodwal said:

“At a time when local authorities and statutory social services are making more referrals to Honeypot than ever before and funds to support young carers and disadvantaged children in need of respite breaks has never been lower, conditions for charities such as Honeypot have never been more challenging.”

“Over the past 11 years that I have led Honeypot, I cannot recall a time when voluntary funding has been more at the centre for providing essential services for children.”

In London, Sheila, a mother of a young carer said: “If there wasn’t anything like Honeypot, I don’t think Jaiden would get the opportunity to go away from home.”

With slashes to 760 youth centres we fear that young carers futures are at risk. They can miss out on socialising and having a break from their parental caring role at home.

Without the outreach service and respite breaks that Honeypot provides many young carers would be in crisis.Click to act now.