Parents from across Croydon demanded they be given a voice as they descended upon Parliament to lobby against funding cuts to family support.

The group handed in a manifesto on behalf of charity Parentline Plus(PLP), which called for family support to remain free and a priority despite the need to cut costs from the national budget.

A series of focus groups conducted by PLP in the borough showed children as young as 11 were getting involved in violent drug gangs, the Croydon Guardian revealed last December.

The focus groups found that families living in deprived areas such as Thornton Heath and New Addington were more likely to have children who were aggressive, fell out of education and involved themselves with gangs in a bid to fit in.

Valerie Outram, area manager for Parentline Plus Croydon, said: “Families across the UK continue to experience and cope with hardship and difficult circumstances at different stages of their lives.

“When money is tight and cuts must be made, it is tempting to divert money away from services, including services that support families.

“Yet such a move would have an enormous impact on the families who depend on those services now, and those who may need them in the future.

“It is our hope that parental voices will form a positive contribution to the family policy debate and help decision makers get things right for families.”

PLP is calling for the next Government to ‘Give parents a voice’, and recognise decisions which negatively affect family life can have a domino effect on society.

The charity runs a free 24 hour, seven day a week telephone helpline, email and live chat support as well as face-to-face and group sessions.

More information is available at parentlineplus.org.uk