# Childhood postcode lottery report reveals stark inequalities

> New UK report shows children in deprived areas face worse mental health, education and safety outcomes than wealthier peers.
- Title: Childhood postcode lottery report reveals stark inequalities
- Summary: New UK report shows children in deprived areas face worse mental health, education and safety outcomes than wealthier peers. Children in England face…
- Keywords: childhood, postcode lottery, mental health, education, safety, children's services, england, children's commissioner, postcode, lottery, report, reveals
- Source: MadeForMums — https://madeformums.com/news/family-news/does-where-you-live-shape-your-childs-future-a-new-report-reveals-a-stark-postcode-lottery
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: childhood, postcode lottery, mental health, education, safety, children's services, england, children's commissioner
## Report highlights childhood postcode lottery
A new report reveals huge differences in children’s access to mental health support, education, dental care and safe spaces depending on where they live.
## Children’s services face national emergency
Children’s services in England are facing a national emergency with where a child grows up significantly impacting their access to education, healthcare, youth services and safe spaces.
## Childhood Lottery report findings
The *Childhood Lottery* report examines over 160 measures of children’s lives including education, health, safety and social care.
## Key statistics from report
More than one million children were referred to mental health services in 2024-25, 55% of children do not achieve good standards in english and maths gcse, one million people aged 16-24 not in employment education…
## Regional disparities in services
In leicester children wait six days for mental health assessments versus 118 days in hampshire and the isle of wight, 70% of children in richmond upon thames achieve good gcse grades versus 31% in knowlesy…
## Most challenging areas for children
Middlesbrough, hounslow, bradford, nottingham, halton, peterborough, leicester, liverpool, sundershall and medway are among the 10 most challenging places to grow up in england.
## Least challenging areas for children
Cheshire east, merton, surrey, richmond upon thames, hertfordshire, cheshire west and chester, haringey, leicestershire, central bedfordshire and wokingham are least challenging places to be a child.
## Dame Rachel’s warnings
Dame Rachel de souza called the current situation a national emergency and said she cannot see the status quo as anything less than a national emergency.
## Children’s safety concerns
Children witnessed knife crime regularly and felt unable to visit local parks due to safety concerns, with some knowing crime statistics in their area.
## Proposed solutions
Dame Rachel called for minimum standards for children’s services, a national children’s emergency fund, and greater responsibility for local authorities to improve children’s outcomes.
## Key takeaway

Children in England face significant disparities in mental health access, education, and safety depending on their postcode, with some areas having 118-day waits for mental health assessments versus six days in others.