The Alliance for Childhood serves as a network that facilitates reflection and action by people with concerns about the care and education of children. It is not a conventional organisation, but an expression of a willingness to work together for the betterment of the experience of childhood. It exists in the shared work and spirit of cooperation whereby all partners can find mutual support. It is a collaborative approach that is created by commitment and by the activity itself.

In this sense it cannot be incorporated into a legal or institutional structure and ideally the concept will maintain this characteristic when used worldwide. However, full respect is given to diverse cultural and national practices and each national, regional or local group of partners should find their own appropriate and effective form. To underpin the work, institutional structures which fulfil all legal requirements regarding finance and accountability are necessary, but it is to be recommended that if such organs are established, they do not entitle themselves “Alliance for Childhood” but rather use such nomenclature as “Right to Childhood” or “Alliance for Childhood Fund” etc. This then avoids the confusion between a legal entity, and therefore ownership and legal responsibility, and a network that operates in the free cultural life of every partner.

The ethical basis for caring for childhood within the Alliance requires integrity, responsibility, competence and responsiveness. These are matters of self-evaluation that can be enhanced and developed by working alongside colleagues who are not there to judge or persuade but rather to find common ideals, activities and purposes that can strengthen and make our work more effective. The Alliance is platform for making a difference without having to assume an inappropriate identity or compromising one's beliefs or values, at a time when the quality of modern childhood has become a major concern in numerous countries and when various tragic events have highlighted the dilemmas facing us now.

• Creating a network of Alliance partners to promote the aims and objectives amongst parents, childcarers, educators, healthcare professionals and within local government.
• Exchanging information, research and experience, thereby building up a shared picture to allow individual initiative.
• Collating regular reports from around the world. Disseminating information through conferences, publications, the media and the Alliance website. 
• Promoting research and identifying conditions for healthy child development.
• Encouraging joint activities between a range of community based organisations involving children and adults.
• Working with government agencies to influence change in laws and policies.

Christopher Clouder