Tackling Child Poverty with Children North East
The long–awaited Child Poverty Strategy has been released; “Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty”. We greatly welcome this national strategy and are proud of the work we, and our networks, have done to drive this change.
“We greatly welcome this national strategy and are proud of the role Children North East and our networks have played in driving this change; we are hopeful this will alleviate some of the issues that have caused hardship for so many.
We are encouraged by the government’s acknowledgement that poverty is systemic and requires long-term, collaborative solutions. Our Poverty Proofing® work, which listens directly to children, young people and families, has been recognised as a key contribution to this strategy, and we will continue to ensure their voices shape meaningful change. The recognition of our work across education, healthcare, and cultural settings is a testament to the dedication and passion of our teams and partners. Together, we can build a sustainable future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
Leigh Elliott, Children North East
The announcement by Rachel Reeves, lifting of the two-child limit is a big lever of change that will make a quick and long-lasting difference to child poverty. Although there are concerns about it not coming into effect until April 2026, leaving families struggling through the winter months; it marks the end of an eight‑year battle since the limit was first introduced.
We are pleased to see the acknowledgement by the government of the systemic nature of poverty, and that multiple partners are needed to truly break the cycle. Child poverty cannot be resolved overnight, but this commitment gives us hope that government are investing in long‑term strategies to build a sustainable future for the next generation.
The government promised to create this strategy with a ‘taskforce who will put the direct testimony of children, families and organisations at the heart of their work’, and we are proud of our Poverty Proofing® work that has been recognised as a key contribution to this voice-led approach. Poverty Proofing is a methodology and ethos, created by Children North East in 2014, that supports organisations to recognise and remove barriers for children living in poverty, working across education, healthcare, and cultural settings. The basis of our work is listening to the children, young people and families affected by low-income in these settings and advocating for changes, both big and small, that truly make a difference.
We also deliver Poverty Awareness training to ensure evidence‑based understanding and sustainable practice. By embedding this awareness into everyday decision‑making, organisations are better equipped to challenge assumptions, reduce stigma, and create inclusive environments where all children can thrive.
The recognition of our partnership working across the NHS, Libraries Connected and the Welsh Government to end child poverty is a testament to the hard work, dedication and passion of our teams and networks.
Child poverty is not inevitable. With the right policies, partnerships and commitment, we can ensure every baby, child and young person grows up happy and healthy.
