Do you know that around one in four children in NI live in poverty? This affects their health, their educations and their chances in life. Children with disabilities, Traveller children and children in single parent families are among those most likely to be living in poverty. This winter many will be living in cold homes, and may be going without basic necessities because their parents can’t afford them.
NICCY wants the Government to take action to meet their promise to halve child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020.
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One of the most important things for children and young people is to have a loving and safe family. However, many families experience considerable difficulties, such as overcoming barriers associated with disabilities, illness and poverty. Some parents find it hard to cope and to provide the support their children need.
NICCY wants Government to make sure that support is there for families and carers when they need help and to make sure families know about positive ways to help parents in this important role.
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How many times have you heard negative comments about children and young people? Children and young people deserve to be valued and protected within our communities- but too often they are either ignored or negatively stereotyped as trouble-makers. Where there are problems these should be dealt with so everyone feels safe- including children and young people who are more often the victims of crime rather than the perpetrators.
NICCY wants Government and the police to make sure children have space to play and that young people are able to meet up and socialise in their communities in safety.
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Imagine what life would be like if people made decisions for us and didn’t ask our opinion. In the same way, children and young people have a right to be involved in decisions that affect them in all areas of their lives, including having their say at home, being able to take part in schools councils, involvement in how councils plan for their communities and being listened to by professionals like doctors, social workers and judges.
NICCY wants Government to take more action to make sure that children and young people are involved when decisions are made that affect them.
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Children and families who come to Northern Ireland to make a better life for themselves or who have left their home because of conflict and persecution can face discrimination here and find it hard to access the services they need.
NICCY wants Government to take action to challenge discrimination and make sure children from other countries get the support they need. We also want the UK Government to review how children and families seeking asylum here are treated.
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When NICCY asked children and young people across NI to choose their top issue, their number one concern was having play and leisure facilities and places to hang out that were safe, nearby and affordable. Too many tell us that they have nothing to do, and no place to go.
NICCY wants Government and councils to make sure that new plans for play and leisure work for all children and young people from birth to 18 and that children and young people are involved in the planning.
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Children with disabilities face barrier that can affect their health, education and home life. They often experience discrimination and are not treated equally to other children. This has a negative impact on how they enjoy growing up and also on their opportunities later in life. Too often their views aren’t properly taken into account.
NICCY wants Government to make sure children and young people with disabilities get the support they need to overcome these barriers in childhood and as they make the transition to adulthood.
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When children are looked after by authorities like social services, or living with foster carers, or in children’s homes, it’s important their care is safe and stable. When young people reach 16 and 17 they need support as they leave care and for some time afterwards.
NICCY wants Government to make sure that looked after children are involved in decisions about their care and are able to voice their concerns is they are not happy with it. It also must provide the essential support for young people leaving care.
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Why is it some of our children get the best exam marks in the UK while others struggle? The answer here lies in our education system in Northern Ireland, and in the wider barriers that many children face. This means some children get good marks while others, particularly disadvantaged children like those from Traveller communities, can have very poor experience of school.
NICCY wants Government schools and colleges to work together to make sure that every child has a good education. We also want a fairer system for children transferring from primary to post primary schools to be put in place.
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Everybody feels bad at times for all sorts of reasons. Children and young people need to have someone to talk to about what’s happening in their lives. Some, who are finding it hard to copy, might need specialist support.
NICCY wants Government to make sure that children can talk to someone when they need to and don’t have to wait long to get specialist help in Northern Ireland.
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When children and young people get into trouble with the law, they can find themselves without appropriate support and not understanding what is happening to them. It is important that, as children, what is happening is explained to them properly and that they are supposed to face the future more positively.
NICCY wants the police and Government to ensure that children and young people in trouble with the law are dealt with in an age-appropriate way, and have access to education and other services.
Our Legal and Casework team received 575 referrals throughout the year. Each referral is about us helping children and young people when they don’t receive the service they deserve or the service isn’t good enough.
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December 2010- Celebrating children and young people
There are around 450,000 children and young people in Northern Ireland- who all make a unique contribution to society. It is important to recognise and celebrate all the positive things they do, and the difference they make to the lives of their friends, families and to their communities.
NICCY wants Government to demonstrate how it values children and young people by keeping the promises it made when it signed the UNCRC 21 years ago and making children’s rights a reality in Northern Ireland.
January 2011- Protecting Children
Lots of children grow up being loved, cared for and safe but some need to be protected from abuse.
Abuse can affect children in lots of different ways (physically, emotionally and socially) getting support can make children's lives safer from abuse and help them cope with what has happened and how it is affecting them.
NICCY wants government to make sure the new safeguarding board is strong and independant, to learn lessons when children die or are seriously hurt and to ensure that services to protect children have enough money and support.
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