Put Children First bring children’s voices to the heart of Westminster

Last week marked a significant milestone in Alder Hey Children’s Charity’s Put Children First campaign, as we brought the voices of children directly into the heart of UK policymaking.

Held at a crucial juncture—just ahead of the release of both the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy and the NHS 10-Year Plan—our special drop-in event at the Houses of Parliament aimed to ensure one clear message was heard: children’s health must be a national priority.

Over the past year, the team at Alder Hey Children’s Charity has seen a disturbing trend: a growing number of children are presenting with health issues typically seen in adults—conditions linked to poverty, poor housing, poor nutrition, and widening health inequalities.

This public health crisis demands urgent attention. That’s why we launched the Put Children First campaign—to shine a spotlight on the links between child poverty and poor health outcomes, and to call on policymakers to place children’s wellbeing at the centre of long-term healthcare planning.

Building on the momentum from our recent visit to Downing Street, where children delivered a powerful letter to No.10 outlining their lived experiences, this Westminster event allowed young people to speak directly to Parliamentarians. Children shared their stories, their hopes, and their practical ideas for how to build a fairer, healthier future for their generation.

The event featured powerful remarks from key voices in the fight for children’s health and equality:

• Iain Hennessey, Surgeon and Director of Innovation at Alder Hey, spoke of the medical consequences of poverty and the urgent need for innovation in how we approach paediatric care.
• Fiona Ashcroft, CEO of Alder Hey Children’s Charity, shared insights from our front-line experience and outlined how charities, healthcare professionals, and policymakers must work together to create systemic change.
• Ian Byrne MP and Kim Johnson MP, two long-time champions for child health and anti-poverty initiatives in the North West, reinforced their commitment to ensuring no child is left behind by the healthcare system.

Children are not just patients—they are future scientists, artists, teachers, carers, and leaders. But too many are being held back before they’ve had a chance to thrive. Their access to healthcare, nutrition, education, and a safe environment should never be dependent on their postcode or family income. As the Government prepares to publish its long-term strategy for the NHS, we believe children’s health must be its foundation.

If your organisation also believes that addressing children’s health should be the foundation of the NHS’s 10-Year Plan for Health, then please get in touch.