The British Betrayal of Childhood: Challenging Uncomfortable Truths and Bringing About Change

by Al Aynsley-Green

With provocative insight and based on an illustrious 40-year career in public office, Sir Al Aynsley-Green demands to know why outcomes for the UK’s children for health, education, social care, youth justice and poverty remain among the worst in the developed world. He draws global comparisons and offers astute observations of the realities of being a young person in Britain today, to show how government policies have been shamefully failing children on a grand scale. Prioritising the need to support and inspire all children, including those with disability or disadvantage, and to design services around their needs, Sir Al puts forward a brave and timely alternative for the UK. By building local communities, shifting national attitudes, and confronting barriers between sectors, he presents a fresh and realistic road map that can enable new generations of children to be as healthy, educated, creative and resilient as they can be, equipped with the confidence and skills they need to lead happy and successful lives. A must-read for those engaged in children’s services, policy and parenting in the UK, Sir Al confronts the obstacles and attitudes faced by young people today with tact, honesty and compassion, to offer his vision of a society in which each and every child is valued.

246 pages, Paperback

Published September 28, 2018

Reviews

[Danny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't normally bother reviewing books on here but the lack of critical reviews of this book has motivated me to add my comments.

I can't remember the last time I stopped reading a book before the end but I just could not even get halfway through this one. The subject matter and apparent intent of this book are so in keeping with my personal and professional beliefs that I thought I would be guaranteed to like it.

However, the writing style is absolutely terrible. It is clunky and disjointed with so many odd, annoying features: things like the author's insistence on including his own name in quotes from people he spoke to ("Well Al, I believe...") and his constant lists of rhetorical questions. It is universally lacking in flow or readability and it is littered with sentences that are grammatically incorrect and/or punctuated incorrectly. It reads as if it were never even glanced at by an editor. He also constantly refers to minimal anecdotal evidence as if it is proof of his points.

For me though, the final nail in the coffin was the comments which were made in an offhand way and were generally irrelevant to what was being said, but which revealed the author's rather unpleasant biases around race and religion. This was especially disappointing given his supposed passion for social justice and support for the marginalised.

Overall, highly disappointing.

[Coley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hard read but also a very boring read!
It’s super informative but after a long day at my work placement for social work, the last thing I want to read for leisure time is this! I’m sure it would be great for support with assignment work or dissertation work but it just didn’t float my boat

[Melanie Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot comprehend how much as a society, children are being betrayed, by politics and adult agendas. A must read.