Background to Every Child Matters

In 2003, the Government published a green paper called Every Child Matters. This was published alongside the formal response to the report into the death of Victoria Climbié, the young girl who was horrifically abused and tortured, and eventually killed by her great aunt and the man with whom they lived.

The green paper built on existing plans to strengthen preventative services by focusing on four key themes:

Increasing the focus on supporting families and carers - the most critical influence on children's lives
Ensuring necessary intervention takes place before children reach crisis point and protecting children from falling through the net
Addressing the underlying problems identified in the report into the death of Victoria Climbié - weak accountability and poor integration
Ensuring that the people working with children are valued, rewarded and trained

The green paper prompted an unprecedented debate about services for children, young people and families. There was a wide consultation with people working in children's services, and with parents, children and young people.

Following the consultation, the Government published Every Child Matters: the Next Steps, and passed the Children Act 2004, providing the legislative spine for developing more effective and accessible services focused around the needs of children, young people and families.

Every Child Matters: Change for Children was published in November 2004 and this website was launched soon afterwards.

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Documents

Every Child Matters green paper

Every Child Matters: Change for Children