The Children’s Fund is an inspired programme. For the first time for decades we had a government which was interested in the fate of disadvantaged children, and was putting money into the hands of local communities to give them a better chance. The fund generated a large and diverse array of new work, and as a result has touched the lives of some of the most isolated and marginalised children in the land. The Children’s Fund, with Sure Start and Connexions, has laid the foundation of a new body of knowledge about effective preventive services.

The current funding crisis is now jeopardising much of this progress. Our letter from the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, together with the heartfelt piece from an anonymous Children’s Fund programme manager, indicates not only the extent of the damage, but the fact that it is so unnecessary.

In contrast, the delay in announcing next year’s budget is down to ministers at the DfES "reviewing their priorities". The government’s target of tackling poverty and social exclusion among children, and the size of the pot of money set aside by chancellor Gordon Brown, means individual programmes are vulnerable to ministerial tinkering. We’ve already seen Sure Start change from a programme to improve the care of young children to the central plank in the strategy to get their parents into jobs. The Children’s Fund has already been raided in the interests of the youth crime agenda, with 25 per cent of funds diverted to projects approved by the Youth Justice Board. Of course it’s legitimate for the government to review its spending priorities. But with this furtive and belated cash grab, it is risking the goodwill, and good faith, of the professionals and organisations it most needs to achieve its aims.