Framework published for government’s Child Poverty Taskforce
Government policy paper sets out how it plans to give all children the best start in life, ahead of full strategy to be published in the spring.
The ambitious scope of the new Child Poverty Taskforce has been revealed with the publication of the framework policy paper covering how it will operate. This anticipates publication of the full, detailed strategy in early 2025.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall MP and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP visit a Barnardo’s Family Centre in the London Borough of Brent, photo courtesy of Brent Council.
The overall aim of the new taskforce, says the government, is to break down the barriers to opportunity and so give all children the best start in life. To make this happen, the taskforce will focus on reducing the numbers of children in relative poverty after housing costs and those who are going without essentials.
The framework further outlines how the taskforce with partner with key anti-poverty organisations on targets such as reducing costs, increasing incomes and improving access to early year’s support for struggling families.
A new forum comprised of parents and carers living across the UK will be set up to ensure the experiences of children in poverty, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, feed into the final strategy.
What’s more, the framework sets out how ministers will participate in events across the UK bringing together a diverse range of voices and expertise with the express aim of addressing the systemic drivers of poverty, in everything from employment to housing.
Ministers will also benefit from the expertise of leading organisations such as Barnardo’s, Citizens Advice, the National Children’s Bureau and Save the Children, while a new board of leading academics and experts on tackling poverty will inform, test and scrutinise the developing strategy.
- Read the full policy paper Tackling Child Poverty: Developing Our Strategy
The framework was launched by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall MP and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP while visiting a Barnardo’s Family Centre in the London Borough of Brent. Accompanied by Barnardo’s CEO Lynn Perry MBE, they joined a children’s session focused on healthy eating and heard how parents struggle with the cost of essentials. The ministers went on to meet with leading organisations to discuss ways to reduce household costs.
Next month, the Work and Pensions Secretary will also visit Scotland to speak to local leaders, key charities and organisations as well as parents, children and frontline workers about ways in which the taskforce can help address such challenges.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall MP says: ‘Children can’t fulfil their potential without food in their bellies or a roof over their head. And Britain cannot fulfil its potential when the talents of so many children are being denied. It is unacceptable that more than 4m children are now growing up in poverty. Under our new government, this will change. We will work with campaigners and experts – and struggling families across the country to deliver a bold and ambitious strategy that drives down poverty and drives up opportunity in every corner of the land.’
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP adds: ‘The stain of poverty of child poverty in this country has jeopardised the life chances of too many children for too long. Ending child poverty is a complex and difficult task, but our defining mission is to break down the unfair link between background and success – so every child believes that opportunity can belong to them. Today’s framework sets the clear direction on this mission, ensuring we are united across government and with stakeholders to drive down household costs.
Lynn Perry MBE, Chief Executive of Barnardo’s, says: ‘We are seeing epidemic levels of poverty amongst children in the UK. Across the country, families are facing a desperate struggle to put food on the table, keep the lights on and heat their homes this winter. More than 4.3 million children are growing up in poverty, with one in four families saying they’ve struggled to afford food in the last 12 months alone.
‘Growing up in poverty can have a devastating impact on a child’s life, affecting their learning, mental and physical health long into adulthood, while limiting their life chances. We’re grateful to the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Education for their visit to meet children and families at our Brent service which supports those struggling with the cost-of-living. We look forward to working with ministers to find long-term solutions to these issues whilst recognising families also need immediate help this winter.’
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