Children’s health is getting worse – and relationships matter
The latest State of Child Health 2026 report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) makes for uncomfortable reading. Nearly ten years after the first report was published, the picture for children and young people in England is not improving. In many areas, progress has stalled or gone backwards, while inequalities between children growing up in the most and least disadvantaged communities remain stark.
The RCPCH has analysed 12 key indicators of children’s health and wellbeing. Its conclusion is clear: we need to do more, and we need to do it sooner.
Health is about more than healthcare
The report highlights the powerful influence of the circumstances in which children grow up. Poverty, deprivation and wider social inequalities are closely linked to poorer health outcomes. It also highlights worrying inequalities in child mortality, mental health and other areas of children's health and wellbeing.
These findings reinforce something that organisations working directly with families see every day: children's wellbeing is shaped by their relationships, their communities and the opportunities they have to thrive - not simply by what happens when they need medical care.
The RCPCH is calling for greater investment in children's health, better data and clear national targets to improve children's health and reduce inequalities. It also stresses the importance of prevention and tackling the underlying causes of poor outcomes. We believe that strong relationships should be part of that preventative approach.
We cannot solve the challenges facing children through healthcare alone. Supporting families, strengthening relationships and giving children positive experiences and trusted adults around them are all part of helping children grow up healthy and well.
At MAN&BOY, we create opportunities for men and boys to do things together, have fun and build a stronger relationship along the way. The activity is important – but the relationship is at the heart of what we do.
A healthier future for every child
The RCPCH warns that without urgent action, we risk raising one of the unhealthiest generations of children in recent decades. Its report also highlights how strongly children's health outcomes are affected by inequality.
There is no single answer to this challenge. But investing in children means investing not only in health services, schools and communities, but also in the relationships that help children feel secure, supported and valued.
