On November 18th, Labour Mayor for the Northeast Combined Authority Kim McGuinness announced plans to tackle child poverty at the region's first Child Poverty Summit in Sunderland.
Kim McGuinness pledged to fund after-school clubs, employment support and discounted transport fares.
McGuinness has announced that a £50m package of government support would be given to those in employment who face difficulties due to health and disability. The plans to support families and lower child poverty include after-school club sessions in 220 schools, financial and welfare support in 85 schools, and 1,500 baby boxes which will be delivered to new parents on low incomes.
Around 4.3 million children in the UK live in poverty according to the most recent figures. The North East has the highest child poverty rate in the UK, with over 118,000 children living in poverty across the North East, and 3.8% of children in Newcastle living in poverty. In her announcement Kim McGuinness stated, “Enough is Enough” and has promised to tackle child poverty across the North East.
Around 4.3 million children in the UK live in poverty
Additionally, Labour Mayor McGuinness has extended the £1 bus, metro and ferry cap for 21 and under until next year, aiming to keep the cap in place until 2028.
The £50m package will be funded by the Department of work and pensions, with the youth transport fare cap funded through a £23.8m share of £1b funding for bus improvements announced by transport secretary Lousie Haigh.
The Labour government has been criticised for not scrapping the two-child benefit cap, scrapping this policy has the potential to lift an estimated 300,000 children out of poverty according to the End Child Poverty coalition.
A government spokesperson said a taskforce was developing an ambitious strategy to tackle child poverty aiming to give children the best start in life.
