Local action on child poverty
Local action on child poverty
Today sees the publication of our first ‘Working Paper’ which looks at whose responsibility it is to tackle child poverty locally.
Local authorities and their partners are central to efforts to tackle poverty, and have been for many years. The local duties in the Child Poverty Act (2010) have required all local authorities to co-operate with partners to reduce child poverty and to prepare a Child Poverty Needs Assessment and a Child Poverty Strategy for its area. The Coalition government emphasis on localism and decentralisation led to non–statutory guidance being issued in support of the local duties and this allowed local authorities to develop child poverty work in different ways and with different approaches.
The paper draws on evidence from reviews of current child poverty work and from work in the 1980s and 1990s which explored ‘anti-poverty’ work taking place in local autorities. The working paper can be accessed by clicking the link below.
Employers
Work has to be a better route out of poverty. Most poor children have a working parent.
Schools
Poverty leads to poor attainment. Poor attainment leads to poverty.
Local Authorities
Councils have a duty to address child poverty through their services, jobs and contracts.
Everyone
Everyone can help to tackle child poverty. Every contribution matters.