Safeguarding vulnerable children: The role of the Victoria Climbié Foundation

Abstract

The Victoria Climbié Foundation (VCF) was established following the public inquiry into the tragic death of Victoria Climbié, and was set up to raise child protection awareness nationally and in particular within black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. VCF is the leading independent organisation campaigning for improvements to child protection policies and practices and effective coordination and links between statutory agencies and the community. Since its inception in 2003, VCF has worked with over 650 families to aid their understanding of roles and responsibilities of statutory agencies, and to navigate the system. They have worked with over 100 community groups, including faith organisations, to ensure that they have greater knowledge of the child protection framework in the context of the laws of this country as well as ensuring that they understand what is—and what is not—acceptable in raising children in the UK.