The UK is ranked bottom out of 21 nations in an average score across six different assessments, or ‘dimensions’, of child well-being.
The UK scores lowest in assessments for relationships, behaviours and risks, and subjective well-being. The other areas are material well-being, health and safety, and educational well-being.
Children in the Netherlands have the best quality of life in the survey, followed by Sweden and Denmark. The United States and Hungary are second and third lowest (see www.unicef.org/irc).
The Children’s Society joined forces with UNICEF to highlight the issues as it launched an interactive micro-site at www.mylife. uk.com, urging children and young people to take part in the Good Childhood Inquiry, the UK’s first independent national inquiry into childhood.
Children’s Society chief executive Bob Reitemeier said the UNICEF findings were ‘a wake-up call’. He said, ‘We need to start asking questions about why the UK is scoring so badly. We’ve known for a long time that we’re not doing the best for our children.’
Friendship is the first topic for the micro-site, asking children whether having friends is important, what they like doing together and how they feel if they don’t have any friends. Other themes covered later in the year will be family, learning, lifestyle, health and values.
The Good Childhood Inquiry’s final report and recommendations will be published in 2008.
Copies of a postcard on which the youngest children can respond can be ordered from the Children’s Society on 0845 600 8585 and details are available at www.goodchildhood.org.uk.