Article: About Children's Trusts Article Body Childrens trusts are local partnerships that bring together the organisations responsible for services for children, young people and families in a shared commitment to improving childrens lives across the five Every Child Matters outcomes: being healthy staying safe enjoying and achieving making a positive contribution securing economic wellbeing. Local authorities have responsibility for leading their childrens trust, but they work closely with other local agencies that have a duty to co-operate under the Children Act 2004 to plan, commission or deliver services for children, young people and families to ensure their safety and wellbeing. These include, for example, health authorities, primary care trusts, police, youth offending teams, probation services, schools, social care, and housing. Childrens trusts are not organisations in their own right. Each of the partners that form the Trust retains its own responsibilities, but they work together to join up, and thus improve, services for children, young people and families. Local authorities, whether or not they call their way of working together a childrens trust, have to show that there are integrated working arrangements in place from the planning of services through to delivery, and that the aim is to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families. Childrens trusts promote strong joint planning and commissioning of services and focus on the key priorities for their locality, which are informed by their Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and clearly set out in their Lord Laming's enquiry into the death of Victoria Climbi£ in 2000 led to a government overhaul of children's services. Eight year old Victoria died following abuse and neglect by those entrusted with her care. To prevent this kind of tragedy happening again, the Laming report highlighted the need for improved accountability, better communication and joint working between agencies involved with children and young people. In September 2003, the Government published the Every Child Matters Green Paper alongside its formal response to the Victoria Climbie Enquiry Report. The Green Paper, together with the Children Act 2004, proposed changes in policy and legislation in England to maximise opportunities and minimise risks for all children and young people, focusing services more effectively around their individual needs. The Act requires every local authority to work with partners (key statutory agencies), through children's trusts, to improve outcomes for children and young people from pre-birth to 19 years.