Anne Longfield was formerly chief executive of the charity 4Children.
15 Facts About Anne Longfield
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Anne Longfield was appointed the Children's Commissioner for England in March 2015 and was succeeded at the end of February 2021 by Dame Rachel de Souza.
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Anne Longfield started working in the children's sector in the 1980s as a researcher with Save the Children.
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Anne Longfield subsequently served as Chief Executive of Kids Clubs Network.
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Over her time in office the Anne Longfield worked on issues affecting children's mental health, put forward proposals for giving children more power over their digital lives, published research on the experience of children in care, and launched a long-term study and data index on vulnerable children invisible to the state.
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Anne Longfield has seen a number of them put into place by Government.
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Anne Longfield has made many appearances in print and on broadcast media, and has made representations to local and national Government.
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Anne Longfield has created a digital platform for Children in Care, IMO.
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Anne Longfield was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2000 and Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to children.
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Anne Longfield is concerned about what she sees as the effect of benefit cuts on vulnerable children in low income families.
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Anne Longfield stated that universal credit and wider welfare reforms disproportionately affect single parents.
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Anne Longfield has argued for large digital platforms that are used by children to have greater responsibility and response to complaints from child users and has called for legislation in England to tackle perceived reluctance on such platforms to do so.
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Anne Longfield has stated that waiting times and coverage of children's mental health services are too long, and insufficient for need.
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Anne Longfield believes there should be a register of children home educated in England.
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In 2015, shortly after starting her new role as children's Commissioner, Anne Longfield was criticised for removing her Deputy, Sue Berelowitz, with an enhanced severance package, and then immediately hiring her back as a consultant.