Brown unveils a policy review of support for young people in Budget

The government has launched a policy review of support for children and young people as part of proposals unveiled in today’s Budget.

It will inform the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review and consider areas including improving support for families with disabled children and delivering effective early intervention.

Chancellor Gordon Brown also announced that the Treasury is to set up an office for voluntary sector finance, which will be advised by organisations.

The Treasury will also launch a review into the future role of the voluntary sector in social and economic regeneration involving the largest consultation ever done with the sector.

The Budget also contained proposals to raise child benefit for the eldest or only child from £17.00 to £17.45 a week and to give additional Child Trust Fund payments to children when they reach the age of seven.

Currently, children from low-income families get a one-off payment of £500 and children from middle-income families get £250 from the Fund at birth.

Other proposals included raising childcare vouchers from £50 to £55 a week and setting up a new fund for innovative projects suggested by young people in their communities.

For a full copy of the Budget 2006 go to: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk