Challenge Poverty Week 2024
This Challenge Poverty Week we would like share to you all about how poverty is affecting children in the North East, and the changes that need to be made at a nationwide policy level to ensure all babies, children and young people grow up happy and healthy.
We are hopeful that the new Child Poverty Taskforce will address the barriers facing millions of children nationwide, and that crucial welfare reforms will be made to eradicate child poverty. With 4.3 million children living in poverty in the UK, drastic action must be taken now.
We have seen evidence of numerous blind spots within our services, systems and structures which are keeping families in poverty and stopping them from getting support. From convoluted claims processes, stringent restrictions on those who qualify and lack of opportunity, these barriers are pushing families further and further in to poverty, with no to little support to lift them out.
67% of children living in poverty in the North East are in ‘working families’ where one or more of the parents are in stable employment, but the cost of living – as well as the hidden costs in day to day life – are making it impossible for them to thrive. Additional aspects like childcare, travel, and healthcare needs all compound to make it harder for people to lift themselves out of poverty.
This Challenge Poverty Week, I encourage you all to reconsider your definitions of poverty and break down the stigma attached. Only by addressing the root causes, uncovering the hidden barriers and tackling these issues will we be able to make sure every baby, child and young person has the happy, healthy start in life they deserve.
Since 2011, our Poverty Proofing© team have been working to understand poverty and how it affects people, and what can be done to to become poverty-informed, reduce stigma and break down barriers. This Challenge Poverty Week, they have created short films for each of our strands of work sharing their expertise, key insights and recommendations.
