Ahead of the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy: calling for urgent action

“Too often I hear of families in our parishes and schools who are going without the daily essentials of food, decent housing and warmth. Far too many children are not only missing out on these basics, but also on the opportunities that allow them to develop and thrive, simply because their families are trapped in poverty. This robs them of the dignity that our faith insists is the right of every person.”

Bishop John Arnold

Our vision is for a just society, where every person can live in dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. Achieving this requires policymaking that tackles the causes and consequences of poverty, homelessness and disadvantage. 

As we approach the Government’s Autumn Budget and long-awaited Child Poverty Strategy later this month, we continue to work hard to influence decision-makers and advocate for the changes urgently needed to improve the lives of children and families across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. 

As outlined in our child poverty research report, published earlier this year, we have been calling for key changes that would make a real difference in tackling child poverty: 

• An end to the two-child benefit limit. 
• Free school meals for all primary-aged children. 
• Increased funding for mental health and SEND provision in schools. 
• Provision of temporary accommodation near to children’s schools and a duty on local authorities to notify schools when a family is placed in temporary accommodation. 

We were reminded of the pressing need for change by recent support we’ve given to a family affected by the two-child limit.

Despite the mother working hard with our energy advice service to reduce the family’s energy costs as much as possible, the family’s income still does not stretch far enough to cover the essentials. This leaves her reliant on charities such as ours to provide food and other basic provisions for her children who, like too many others, are growing up in poverty through no fault of their own. 

Following publication of our report, we’ve met with a number of local councillors and MPs to share our findings and push for the reforms that would transform children’s lives. 

We’ve had productive discussions with MPs who have agreed to write to the Ministers responsible for the Child Poverty Strategy outlining the changes we’re calling for, helping us to advocate on behalf of local children and families.  

They’ve also agreed to submit questions to Parliament on our behalf, helping to hold the Government to account ahead of the strategy’s release and further highlight the measures needed to make a tangible difference for those experiencing poverty. 

We’ve been pleased to take part in two roundtables to discuss child poverty, one in the House of Lords and one with local MP for Bury North, James Frith, alongside other organisations working with local people. 

Following the roundtable, James Frith wrote: “Child poverty remains one of the most urgent challenges facing our community.

“Addressing this is…a key focus of my work in parliament. The insight you shared will be invaluable in shaping the forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy.” 

While we will continue to influence and advocate, it’s the Government who must now act to address the crisis of child poverty.  

Central to this is the scrapping of the two-child limit. It will not be possible to see a meaningful improvement to child poverty rates without an end to this policy, which continues to push families into hardship and prevent children reaching their potential. 

In addition, it’s essential that the Child Poverty Strategy contains targets to reduce child poverty over the next ten years if we are to see tangible change. These targets must be measurable, legally binding and independently evaluated.  

You can help strengthen this call for change. Sign our pledge card and add your voice to ours – together, we can demand a future where no child is left behind. 

Find out more about how you can get involved with our child poverty campaign. 

To find out more about our campaigning work and ways you can get involved, click here now.