Mayor of London Sadiq Khan responds to WAVE Trust motion

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Let us know your thoughts on this article and where we go next in the comments below.

 

A motion passed unanimously by the London Assembly in support of the Mayor of London exploring options to implement WAVE Trust's prevention-first early years model has received a response from Sadiq Khan.

Emma Best AM's motion - which you can see in full here - called on the Mayor to:

  • Explore options to pilot a Pioneer Community approach and an Adverse Childhood Experiences HUB within London in addition to the work he is already undertaking in this area; and
  • To personally meet with a representative of the WAVE Trust who are campaigning for a 70% reduction to the existing levels of children who undergo Multiple Adverse Childhood experiences by 2030.

On 13th and 16th September, Best put both actions to Khan during a questions session in the London Assembly. Here were the Mayor's responses.

 

Discussing the 70/30 Campaign

For context, the 70/30 Campaign aims to reduce child maltreatment (child abuse, neglect and doemstic abuse) by 70% by the year 2030. You can find out more about the campaign - including how to become an ambassador for it - here.

 

(13th September) Emma Best AM: "On June 14th the Assembly unanimously passed a motion calling on the Mayor to meet with the WAVE Trust who are campaigning for a 70% reduction to the existing levels of children who undergo Multiple Adverse Childhood experiences by 2030. Will you meet with the WAVE Trust, who have in the meantime reached out to his office without response (currently)?"

Sadiq Khan: "The importance of understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) cannot be underestimated and the work which the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is leading on places a strong focus on adopting a public health approach to reducing vulnerabilities.

"The VRU works closely with the national network of 17 VRUs to ensure that research and evidence are being built and shared with specialists from across health and education sectors around what works in the area of ACEs as well as later in a young person’s development.

"The VRU team has met with the London ACEs Hub already in existence and is keen to do further work with them.

"The VRU has also met with WAVE and enjoys a good relationship with the organisation. For some time, the VRU was represented on WAVE’s board by their public health representative.

"The VRU is happy to follow up further with the WAVE Trust."

 

Piloting a Pioneer Community project

For context, the Pioneer Community model was co-designed by WAVE Trust and leading figures in the early years sector as a framework to ensure that key risk factors and processes are addressed - and, where relevant, assessed - during the crucial first 1,001 days of life (conception to age 2). You can find out more about this in our 2013 report 'Conception to Age 2 - the age of opportunity'.

 

(16th September) Emma Best AM: "On June 14th the Assembly unanimously passed a motion calling on the Mayor to pilot a Pioneer Community approach in London. Will you support this call?"

Sadiq Khan: "The importance of understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) cannot be underestimated and the work which the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is leading on places a strong focus on adopting a public health approach to reducing vulnerabilities.

"It is currently shaping a pilot to support young people who have been affected by domestic violence; it is strengthening the mental health and guidance of parents and carers having listened to their needs; and is investing in school primary programmes to develop healthy relationships as a means of building individual resilience.

"The VRU Director & Deputy Mayor for Education and Childcare has met with the London ACEs Hub already in existence and is keen to do further work with them.

"The Mayor’s three Early Years Hubs (funded from January 2018 to December 2020) in Barnet, Newham and Wandsworth and Merton, brought together local partners to improve the quality of and access to early years provision. The hubs collectively supported 500 early years providers and over 3,000 practitioners."

 

Next steps

Where we go next with the 70/30 Campaign and Pioneer Communities model in London is still under discussion within WAVE. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below on:

  • How do we secure further support for the goals of the 70/30 Campaign across London and within individual boroughs?
  • How do we convince senior local authority personnel to pursue a comprehensive early years framwork that effectively prevents issues before they arise and ensures every child gets the best start in life?

Whatever happens next, we would like to express our strong appreciation to Emma Best AM for her sterling efforts to promote early years prevention within the London Assembly. Thank you for all your support so far!

 

 

Aidan Phillips is Trauma-informed Communities Project Manager at WAVE Trust.