Andrew backs 'I stand for children' campaign

8.00.00pm GMT Mon 22nd Mar 2010

Andrew and young residents in the Constituency

Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne, prospective parliamentary candidate for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, has pledged to support the NSPCC's 'I stand for children' campaign which aims to make child protection a priority for the next Parliament.

Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne said: "As the Lib Dem candidate in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich I'm supporting the NSPCC's new campaign to ensure protecting children is a political priority: I Stand for Children."

The NSPCC's campaign is calling on candidates to commit to a range of child protection measures including:

• Making the internet safer for children

• Continued funding of helpline services for children and for adults concerned about the safety or welfare of a child

• Tackling domestic violence from a child's point of view

• Ensuring that vital child protection reforms are fully implemented and resourced, following the death of Baby Peter and other child deaths since

• Provision of resources for vital therapeutic services for children who have experienced abuse

• Strengthening the role of the children's commissioner in England to act as a genuinely independent voice for children.

The charity's Diana Sutton, head of the public affairs and campaigns unit at the NSPCC, said: "We need to make sure that the next elected Government keeps child protection high on its list of priorities. By signing up to our campaign, candidates in this next general election can help. The public can play their role by letting the politicians know what they want done."

Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne is Deputy Head Teacher of a large Primary School and is a member of the National Association of Head Teachers.