The UK government has launched a historic Child Poverty Strategy aimed at lifting 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030, marking the largest reduction in child poverty in a single parliament since records began. The strategy addresses the root causes of poverty by cutting the cost of essentials, boosting family incomes, and improving local services to ensure every child has the best start in life. It follows the reversal of the two-child limit and introduces measures to support working families, such as expanded childcare for parents on Universal Credit and financial assistance with infant formula.
Children growing up in poverty are more likely to face poor educational outcomes, lower lifetime earnings, and unemployment, while the wider economy suffers from underutilized potential. To address these challenges, the strategy targets access to childcare, enabling new parents on Universal Credit to receive upfront support and extending coverage to all children in larger families. These measures aim to prevent debt traps for parents returning to work and increase employment opportunities.
The strategy also prioritizes children living in temporary accommodation, recognizing the severe impact on education, health, and family stability. Measures include ending unlawful placements in Bed and Breakfasts beyond six weeks, £8 million in Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots across 20 local authorities, and £950 million through the Local Authority Housing Fund to deliver up to 5,000 high-quality temporary homes by 2030. A new legal duty will require councils to notify schools, health visitors, and GPs when children are placed in temporary housing to ensure coordinated support.
To ease the cost of essentials, the government will help families access affordable infant formula, potentially saving up to £540 in a child’s first year. Alongside this, wider cost-of-living measures announced in the budget include £150 off energy bills, a £900 annual increase in the National Minimum Wage, and the removal of the two-child limit, which is expected to lift 450,000 children out of poverty on its own. Collectively, the strategy will benefit 7.1 million children, including 1.4 million living in deep material poverty.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the initiative as a moral mission to ensure children’s futures are not determined by the circumstances of their birth, emphasizing fairness, opportunity, and unlocking potential. Ministers highlighted the strategy’s focus on supporting families where they need it most and providing children with a good start in life. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stressed the government’s commitment to expanding free school meals, breakfast clubs, and family services to give every child the best start in life.
The strategy builds on extensive consultation with families and child poverty experts, including contributions from Changing Realities, Save the Children, and the Children’s Commissioners. It introduces innovative measures to reduce deep material poverty, recognizing that many children lack essentials such as three meals a day or a damp-free home. Legal changes, including amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, will formalize the duties of councils to support children in temporary accommodation.
The Child Poverty Strategy also integrates existing programs and investments, including £400 million to create 3,000 extra nursery places, 30 hours of free childcare for eligible working parents, expansion of free school meals to children in households on Universal Credit, funding for breakfast clubs, and over £600 million for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme. Additionally, up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs will provide joined-up support for parents and children, backed by £500 million. The strategy respects the distinct devolution settlements in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, complementing existing regional initiatives while ensuring funding through the Barnett formula.
This UK-wide approach combines direct financial support, improved access to childcare, enhanced local services, and legal protections to address both relative and deep material poverty, aiming to deliver lasting improvements in children’s lives across the country.
