Ministers meet regional leaders to discuss child poverty

Ministers have met with local leaders to hear about the impact of child poverty.

Liz Kendall, work & pensions secretary, and Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, and both co-chairs of the Child Poverty Taskforce have met with regional leaders from some of the worst affected areas in the country, including the North East Mayor Kim McGuinness.

Almost one in three children in the North East live in poverty.

The chair of the Local Government Association Louise Gittins, president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services Andy Smith and Fred Rattley from the Church of England and Thrive Together Birmingham also attended.

The taskforce heard about measures being rolled out in the region – including grants to help parents with childcare and welfare advisors in schools that have so far saved £2.3 million for 730 vulnerable families.

Mayor McGuinness talked about the North East Child Poverty Reduction Unit, which is the first of its kind in the country.

The group discussed how they can best work with Mayors, local authorities and other bodies to develop innovative solutions to tackle child poverty.

Liz Kendall MP said: "This government will not rest until we have driven down child poverty in every part of our country, using all the levers at our disposal. Local leaders are at the front line in tackling this issue, with bold ideas and new approaches.

"We are determined to learn from their experience about what works in delivering the changes our country needs. Together, we will confront the scar of child poverty and give every child the best start in life."

Bridget Phillipson MP said: "Poverty constrains every part of a child’s life and blights our communities. Tackling it is crucial if we are to break down the barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child.

"This task cannot be achieved alone and I’m grateful to local leaders on the frontline for their invaluable insight on the challenges families are facing, and the innovative approaches they’re using to tackle them."

Kim McGuinness said: "We want to create real opportunity and prosperity for families across the North East and the country - tackling child poverty is the most important thing we can do to deliver that ambition. In the North East, we’ve established the country’s first regional Child Poverty Unit, so we can work with the government’s Taskforce to address the root causes of poverty.

"Mayors know their communities and the challenges we face on the ground, and we all believe child poverty is unacceptable and has no place in our society. That’s why it’s so important and welcome that we are working with the Government’s Taskforce to ensure we have the powers at our disposal to eliminate poverty from our society, and break down the barriers which hold families back."