A BLUEPRINT for continuing the fight against child poverty has been backed by Sunderland City Council’s cabinet.
Child poverty remains a significant issue in the city and across the region with many families facing daily struggles to meet needs and opportunities. This can be from missing out on school trips and digital access to dealing with poor housing and limited transport. The effects of this child poverty can be long-lasting and deeply damaging.
It is estimated that around one-in-three (31 per cent) of the city’s children are in relative low income families after housing costs, and around one-in-three also receive free school meals.
At today’s City Council cabinet meeting (Thursday 16 October), guidelines to continue and step-up this fight against child poverty were agreed. The key aim is to ensure that every city child has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. This is in line with Government priorities and the regional Child Poverty Reduction Unit that has been set up by the North East Mayor Kim McGuinness.
Councillor Michael Butler, who is the City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Child Poverty and Skills, said:
“With levels of child poverty in the North East and Sunderland higher than many other parts of the country, it is our duty to act and do everything we can to help residents overcome the challenges and barriers that lead to poverty. It is this commitment to tackling child poverty that has led us to develop our first ever Child Poverty Strategy.
“This is not the start of our work and as the strategy sets out, a lot of good work is already taking place across a range of service areas where we’re helping create better opportunities and life chances for our young people and their families.
“Yet, poverty is not just about money, it’s about opportunity, wellbeing, and dignity. This draft strategy has been about listening to families, understanding their lived experiences, and working together so we can remove and lift barriers that hold our children and young people back.
“We need to see changes in relation to childcare, transport, the ever increasing costs of food, clothing, energy and other essentials, the difficulty of some to access financial and other support, and also of the stigma associated with living in poverty.”
The draft Child Poverty Strategy report can be read here: Draft Child Poverty Strategy 2025 – 2028
Actions outlined in the report include: creating more secure, well-paid work; and improving access to affordable childcare, and ensuring families can access local welfare support when needed.
In line with national Government, the city has already in the last two-and-a-half years opened five new family hubs that offer support with parenting classes, play groups, health and wellbeing advice, plus education and employment support.
Cllr Butler added:
“Tackling child poverty is not only a moral imperative, it is vital to the health, prosperity, and future of our communities and our city.
“Neither is it just the council and our partners at Together for Children – this is a city-wide commitment. As a council and alongside so many others locally, regionally and nationally, we are and will continue working with communities to ensure every child has the chance to succeed.
“The draft strategy now goes out to further consultation and an accompanying delivery plan will be developed so that we play our part in making the North East ‘a place where every baby, child and young person is supported to thrive and achieve their potential – regardless of their background, or where they live’.”
