A report into the lives of 60 of Croydon’s most vulnerable children exposed the devastating impact their early years can have on their futures.

The study shows a shaky start in life could lead to imprisonment, gang membership, drugs or even an untimely death.

The Vulnerable Adolescents Thematic Review was commissioned after three teenagers died in a matter of weeks – all had been known to social services by the age of two.

But now the report has been published, what is Croydon Council actually going to do to make sure more lives are not lost?

We spoke to some of the council’s leading specialists about the changes they are going to make in the wake of the ground-breaking review.

‘It exposes some vulnerability’

Di Smith who is the independent chair of the Croydon Safeguarding Children Board, said that undertaking the report in the first place was a brave move.

“We’ve gone right back to birth and in some cases pre-birth,” she said.

“This wasn’t an inspection – we were looking at what could have been improved.

“We have an external reviewer, he was the person who met the parents and met the young people – There was very much a sense of doing it with the families.

“The report is the result of everybody [services] looking at themselves and looking at each other.”

Robert Henderson joined the council as chief executive for children, families and education in December.

He said: “It was an endeavour to take stock – It exposes some vulnerability and that was what we decided to do.”

What’s next?

Off the back of the report the council has decided to focus on what it’s calling ‘localities’.

Basically targeting support in different areas of the borough and connecting with community and volunteer groups in these places.

It works with existing organisations in the community.

New support for children in schools is also being offered through the Safe and Well programme.

It is a five week course targeted at nine-13-year-olds and delivered by the council’s Youth Engagement Team.

Schools nominate children they think will benefit to take part in the programme.

It has currently been trialled at nine schools in the borough but is expected to be rolled out across all schools.

Cllr Flemming said: “We had young people who had gone to the same primary school but when it was time to move on went to different secondary schools.

“Before you know it a feud begins – [the sessions] were about helping them reconnect and remember the friendship they had before and make sure they weren’t putting themselves into unnecessary situations.”

Damaging effect of school exclusions

A big focus in the report was the shocking revelation that all 19 children in the group who had been excluded from primary school ended up in the with a criminal conviction.

To keep more kids in school the council wants to train teachers across the borough on ways to avoid exclusions.

Councillor Hamida Ali, cabinet member for safer Croydon said that children misbehaving at school is often a sign of underlying issues.

And that teachers need to learn how to identify if a pupil is acting up due to deeper trauma.

She said: “Education is at the heart of this in terms of that approach to understanding trauma.

“There is important work that is going on in terms of education at schools as being central in terms of our response.”

Mr Henderson said additional training will be offered to schools in the borough.

“The conversation is about working together to make sure children remain in mainstream school,” he said.

“The early help service is definitely progressing in a positive way – that is about developing teams around schools.

“A team would work with the school when they feel they can’t manage.”

And it’s not just children that will be targeted there will be extra help for parents on offer too.

Cllr Flemming said: “Parenting classes will be delivered in schools.

“We always think about it for the parents of younger children but I think it is needed for from Year 5 to Year 8.

“That period for parents and young people is completely different and comes with new challenges.

“It is about being able to support families to get the right help.”

How about safety?

The report included telling statements from teenagers who said they do not feel safe in Croydon with one saying he would never go to Thornton Heath without a knife for protection.

Cllr Ali admitted that changing the perception of areas being unsafe is a tricky one to tackle.

“The key is trying to prevent violence in the first place,” she said. 

“The fact we have seen a reduction in knife crime since January 2018 is down to partnership working and activity in the community.”

But there is always more that can be done, she admitted.

“We might still have a high volume but the fact that we have a steady reduction is something that people often don’t realise.

“Generally people have a perception that crime is much higher that it actually is.”

She added that it is about getting the information out to young people that knife crime in Croydon is actually decreasing.

Cllr Flemming said the Choose Your Future campaign could have a powerful voice when it comes to getting out messages about knife crime.

The name of the campaign, which asks people to think about the choices they are making, was chosen by young people.

This covers carrying a knife, respecting friends and future life goals.

She added that the borough’s young mayor, William Awomoyi and deputy mayor Shea Williams could also play a part.

“The power of our young mayor to speak to young people should not be underestimated,” she said.

Last year more than 12,000 11 to 18-year-olds headed to the polls to vote in Croydon’s first young mayor.