Frontline

Applications close on Friday! Approach Social Work is a fully funded route into children’s social work, with training, support and a clear path for development from day one. Want to see a better future for children? Help build it. Applications close 12 December at 5pm.

For too many children, safety is not a given. Hundreds of thousands of children in England are at risk of harm each year. The right support can make all the difference. This #GivingTuesday, we are launching our new film – which shines a light on the professionals who show up when children face grooming, abuse, exploitation, or things break down at home. Frontline exists to empower these professionals and to make sure every child at risk of harm gets the support they deserve. Donate today and help us make life better for children at risk of harm. https://bit.ly/48p8jxv

It is a wrap for the first cohort of Progress Leadership. Congratulations to everyone who has reached the end of their journey. On Wednesday, we held the final workshop on the programme, an opportunity to share reflections on the impact Progress has had on them, their teams and their approach to leadership. One participant shared: “I’m not the manager I was 12 months ago.” Well done to everyone for reaching this significant achievement. Progress Leadership is a programme which develops the leadership of team managers and aspiring team managers in children's services. It supports participants to strengthen their leadership skills and increase their impact on children at risk of harm. Find out more on our website: https://lnkd.in/d-KJu7_e

When Cerena, the registered manager of the children’s home where Felicity (Fliss) once lived, asked Fliss if she could nominate her for a Frontline Award, Fliss agreed on one condition: “as long as I don’t win.” The thought of accepting an award, speaking on stage and entering a room full of unfamiliar faces filled her with anxiety. Despite that, she travelled to London for the event in May. On the night, something shifted. Despite the nerves, Fliss stepped onto the stage and received the Young People Award, later describing it as “one of the best nights ever.” For the first time in a long time, she felt genuinely proud of herself. The experience gave her confidence, a sense of belonging and a reminder that her voice mattered. The Frontline Award for Young People recognises individuals with lived experience of the social care system who have achieved something great or gone above and beyond to create change within the sector. Felicity embodies exactly that. She shared how the experience helped her overcome her fears: “Since doing that I handle my anxiety around events differently” Fliss now uses her lived experience to help improve services and the support children in care receive. As National Care Leavers Month ends, we are reminded of the importance of recognising care-experienced young people and the impact they can have. Nominations will open in January for the next Frontline Awards, an opportunity to celebrate young people who are creating positive change in their communities.

The social graces are a simple tool that helps us understand how identity, context and lived experience shape people’s lives, and influences how we respond to them. “The social graces help us test our bias… if we swap out somebody’s ethnicity or beliefs, does our response change?” – Susanna Haynes, curriculum lead and practice tutor at Frontline Susanna teaches anti-racist practice on Frontline’s programmes, guiding participants to reflect on how their own experiences and beliefs shape the way they understand others. She highlights the importance of context: “We might be going out to houses of racially minoritised people and seeing that there isn’t much food… but actually it could be that they’re afraid to leave their street because of what’s happening around them.” At Frontline, participants are encouraged to reflect, ask questions and respond thoughtfully. “It’s about noticing what we might not see and asking questions, rather than assuming we already know.” This is where the social graces come in: they help us pause, reflect on our own perspective and consider the unseen barriers and lived experiences that influence the families and communities we work with. What are your thoughts on the social graces?

Shared Lives Plus have captured some truly thoughtful stories from care experienced young people in this video. It’s inspiring to hear them speak so openly about their experiences of finding stability and belonging. Their stories show how much difference the right support can make.  https://lnkd.in/dWTk8_mb

This International Men’s Day, we’re highlighting an Approach Social Work participant who changed direction after a career in mental health and wanting to help people earlier in their lives. He shared that stigma can make men hesitate about children’s social work, but he’s glad he made the move. His advice to others: do it. Applications are still open to join Approach Social Work and start training to become a social worker in summer 2026. 🔗 Apply now: https://bit.ly/449z8EA

“Be invested in the child’s life. My social worker and I bonded over Brooklyn 99 and our love for mango sorbet.” For Aicha, dedication and genuine investment from her social worker helped her overcome anxiety and build trust. This National Care Leavers’ Month, she shares one piece of advice she would give to social workers and reflects on the lasting impact it can have: “The investment truly pays off in the long term. You might not be around to see that, but it sticks with them their whole life.”

This Trustees’ Week, we’re celebrating our board members who play a vital role helping us to achieve our mission. As a charity, Frontline is supported by a board of 12 trustees – professionals from a range of sectors whose insight and guidance strengthen everything we do. Their commitment helps us ensure we continue to empower professionals to create lasting change for children at risk of harm across the country. We’re deeply grateful for their dedication and the difference they make. If you’d like to find out more about our trustees, please visit our website:

The findings published by the ONS yesterday are shocking, even for professionals who work with abused children on a daily basis. When a child suffers abuse, the impacts are profound and last a lifetime – not just for the child but for the community around them. That so many adults report being abused as children is a stark reminder of how urgently we must act to protect young people at risk today. That means ensuring professionals have the right training and support they need to make life better for these children. https://lnkd.in/eKktScDX