Champions for children appeared in 2001. With the death of Peter Townsend in 2009 all the champions discussed in this book are now dead. But they are not forgotten. Eleanor Rathbone's contribution has been articulated in recent debates about child benefit while Frank Field MP continues to draw attention to her distinguished parliamentary career. Marjory Allen's name is still attached to old and new adventure playgrounds. Barbara Kahan is known to today's social workers for her careful analysis of what is required from children's residential care and for her success in drawing attention to child abuse. John Stroud's novels, particularly The shorn lamb, still sell, and his bringing together of literature and childcare has been praised in an academic journal (see Hardy, 2005). A biography of Clare Winnicott was published in 2004 which led to renewed interest in the part she played in supporting her husband, the child psychiatrist, Donald Winnicott, as well as her expertise as a psychoanalyst (Kanter, 2004). Peter Townsend was amazingly prolific, both as a researcher and writer, right up until his death. Since then, his writings have continued to be read widely, with his life celebrated in The Peter Townsend reader, including contributions from a number of academic experts (Walker et al, 2010).

There is something more. The social conditions, the nature of social services agencies and the financial circumstances of the families who were the concern of these champions have changed significantly in recent years. The question arises: are the champions still relevant? I believe they are, but limit myself to just one aspect of each of them in which I think we can still learn from them.

Eleanor Rathbone

The economic crash of 2009-10 in Britain was caused by bankers and financers making too many loans at high interest that could not be re-paid. In the midst came the election of a Coalition government (Conservatives and Liberal Democrats), whose austerity policies involving huge cuts in public spending have led to greater unemployment, frozen wages at the lower end, fixed social benefits and less effective social services. In turn, these policies have contributed to a huge drop in the incomes and living conditions of thousands of families.