🛠️ What would a successful child poverty strategy look like?

A successful child 'ACCESS' strategy begins with a change in the language we use in order to achieve our goal. 'Access' is the key to breaking the cycle of generational poverty. And what does that look like? In short, we are looking at equal access to resources that create the environment for success.

It would look like a level playing field. Where all children, from all walks of life, have the same opportunities to reach their potential, to succeed in life, to perform to the best of their ability, and do amazing things to further the growth of communities across the UK and the world beyond.

- Access to nutritious food without fear. Free school breakfast and lunch for every child from the age of 4. Plus a weekly bag of pantry essentials per child. Families can opt out of these at any time for any length of time and re-access them for any reason at anytime. This eliminates the stigma associated from free food access. Where a child is educated outside of the state system, they can be provided for through community hubs, best suited at libraries. Local businesses can be incentivised to participate in donating fresh /excess food (tons already going to waste on a regular basis) or teaching free community classes on cooking economically, budgeting, repair shops, mending and making, entrepreneurship, etc.

- Access to equitable education. The postcode lottery should no longer determine the quality and value of education in an area. Literacy in a family is a key determinant of breaking cyclical poverty. Community hubs would provide adult literacy classes for free, computer support, skill share, cultural education and awareness. Local churches would be invited to participate in tutoring. Children could come in after school for additional help with subjects. Or a safe place to hang out and learn a skill, sport, video or traditional games. Gardening clubs near the community center would aim to feed the community and teach members valuable life skills.

- Access to equitable housing. Too many commercially zoned properties have stood vacant for far too long. If a property is vacant for more than a year, they must pay a weekly fine until it's being properly used. After 6 months of fines, they have the option of selling it to the council at a reduced price. If they choose not to, after 2 years the property is turned over to the community hub redevelopment group for reclamation. If the hub team with the input of the local community feels housing is needed, then the council will pay for the redevelopment into housing, or maybe it's better suited for a rehabilitation facility for the community, or a youth center etc... the community which is often several postcodes will decide what they want to do with the vacant property in their neighbourhoods. Housing must be safe and healthy. Community hubs volunteers are the go between with the tenants landlords and council. If the landlord refuse to repair a property, the hub institutes a fine structure and is free to ban the landlord from renting in the community. The hub will be given power to own community property that comes with responsibilities of community participation in exchange for subsidised rent.

- Access to equitable medical care again, ending postcode lottery care. Hubs should be staffed with a community nurse, care team. Drop in care clinic for colds, colic, triage for geriatric issues.

- Access to equitable clothing. Community hubs would have swap and shop for clothing. Every newborn gets a complete complimentary starter set. At the beginning of each school year every child gets a set amount on a debit card to buy what they need that isn't provided by the school/hub. Schools should FREELY supply everything needed for the learning environment. This includes uniforms. For every child. A parent may opt out, but it's not required.

🔄 What changes do you need to see?

Get US management companies out of the DWP.

Free university education or free trade schooling for those who aren't inclined to attend university.

A more tapered benefit system rather than cliff edge disasters.

More information provided to the millions of claimants who are missing out on extra help they are entitled to get yet don't know about it. An end to those claimants being underpaid whilst the DWP reap up the savings.

An end to the scrounger rhetoric once and for all.

An end to DWP incompetence, and department errors or overpayments being classed as fraud, an end to blaming the claimant instead of admitting their own mistakes, or wasting millions on appeals they won't win.

An end to all the corporate greed and corruption people are currently exposed to.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What would it mean for you and your family?



When people are invested in their community, they have a desire to see it thrive and replicated. When feeling valued as individuals, people are more willing to go the extra mile. When people feel respected, aspirations are raised. All in all this is good for everyone.

Hello everybody, sorry for the late response.



My answers to the questions are as follows: Education access by giving early education and assisting less privileged children. Healthcare and stability by giving free school meals, mental health support, and health access.

What this will mean for me and my family is that it will reduce stress, and improve well-being.

The changes needed are as follows: Good healthcare access to ensure children’s well-being, improve access to education with free school meals, etc., and good financial assistance for low-income families.



Thank you.

Sometimes I wonder if we will ever make it off Universal Credit. Every time I feel like we’re getting somewhere, everything gets more expensive. It’s like the gap between the average wage and where we are is just insurmountable.

A system that allocates equal resources to all children despite their immigration background. Child poverty does not respect one’s immigration status. Backdating child benefits for families that would have been granted Refugee status does not change or erase the years of living in poverty that children from families seeking asylum would have experienced.

Ideally the child poverty strategy would wipe out child poverty in the UK once and for all. But for the current government and, indeed any other government, to be able to keep their own wealth and status in society, they have to keep a clear divide among the classes. They keep us looking for hope in a fairer future, which I have personally given up on seeing within my lifetime.

My daughter is no longer in full time education, but living in poverty for most of her school life was an immense struggle for the two of us. As a bare minimum, child benefit payments should be increased as they have not kept up with inflation over the years. All school children should be given the opportunity to receive free school meals, and after school clubs and educational trips should also be free along with an end to branded school uniforms that can only be purchased from specialist shops at a premium price. Any of these simple changes would have made an incredible difference to my daughter’s education and prospects for the future.



Offering free school meals to all children would end a lot of bullying and stigma that children who do receive them face on a daily basis, children are also looked down upon by others due to parents not being able to afford the cost of school uniforms. All this is affecting the mental health of both children and parents across the UK, and holding children back from fulfilling their full educational achievements, which would help them to break the cycle of poverty that exists for so many families.

Big news about Barclay's Bank 'glitch' meaning customers are unable to access their money and are being advised to use to foodbanks.



I am customer of Barclay's. I have food to last another 2 days. I will be opening a new bank account at the Bank Of Scotland and closing the Barclay's account once I transferred the balance across.

A successful Child Poverty strategy is one where many families across the country have been able to take part in either discussion forums or community outreaches.



They are voices that help shape a better future for our children, therefore the opinions of parents at all different stages of their children’s lives need to be heard.



Cutting funds from school holiday clubs - which the government is doing now - is not going to help reassure parents that their children are put first on any poverty fighting plan, as has happened in my local council.

Luck or insight ? As Changing Realities moves forward, they are going to have some focus on mental health. This has come at an opportune moment as a story run by the Telegraph States: “Long-term sick could face cuts of £5K a year in benefits crackdown".

Labour Ministers are planning to overhaul the benefits system, sickness benefit claimants could be forced to work, have benefits including PIP cut.

An analysis last year claimed that some sickness benefits are worth more than the minimum wage. This is certainly not the case in my opinion as a single parent, father to a daughter. For a number of years I was living on sickness benefits alone as a single person plus child benefit, with no other help or support of any form.

It is possible for the DWP to take overpayments straight from claimants' benefits, but there is no way for people like myself to recover possibly thousands of pounds in benefits that I should have been entitled to over the years, but was not informed or aware that I could be claiming.



Any further cuts to disability / sickness benefits will have a disastrous effect on millions of people who are already struggling to live a healthy lifestyle, ultimately leading to further physical and mental health problems. Genuine claimants need to be treated with dignity and respect, with all the help needed to ensure a reasonable life.

A successful strategy for child poverty would have to address several issues such as benefit adequacy, affordable housing, free school meals, and employment opportunities. There would have to be investments put in place to ensure the cycle of poverty is broken.

The strategy should provide a long term solution that is not a temporary fix or sticking plaster. There needs to be recognition that reducing child poverty benefits society as a whole.

A successful child poverty strategy should be comprehensive, long-term, and focused on breaking the cycle of poverty rather than just managing its effects.

What would an effective child poverty strategy look like?

1. Fair Wages & Secure Jobs – Ensuring parents have access to stable, well-paid jobs with flexible, family-friendly policies.



2. Affordable Childcare – Expanding access to free or low-cost childcare, enabling parents to work or pursue education.



3. Adequate Social Support – Strengthening benefits like Universal Credit and child allowances so no child grows up in hardship.



4. Affordable Housing – Increasing social housing and implementing rent controls to prevent families from being pushed into temporary or unsafe living conditions.



5. Access to Essentials – Providing free school meals, energy support, and affordable food programs to prevent hunger and cold homes.



6. Investing in Education & Opportunities – Ensuring children from low-income families have access to free school supplies, digital resources, and better learning opportunities.

2. How would this impact you and your family?

1. Reduced financial stress, improving overall well-being.



2. Greater opportunities for children to thrive, participate in activities, and achieve their potential.



3. Safer, warmer, and more stable housing conditions.



4. More resources and time to invest in education, career development, and community involvement.

3. What key changes are needed?

1. Stronger government commitment to prioritizing child poverty reduction.

2. A simpler, more accessible benefits system to ensure families receive the support they need without unnecessary barriers.



3. Better support for single parents and caregivers, including more flexible working options.



4. More action on energy affordability, so families don’t have to choose between heating and eating.

Addressing child poverty requires more than short-term fixes — it demands long-term, systemic change. Every child deserves a fair start in life, and a strong strategy will ensure families can meet their needs without constant financial struggle.

An approach that addresses both immediate needs like food and housing security, alongside long-term factors like quality education, affordable childcare, and decent employment opportunities for parents, with a strong focus on early intervention and targeted support for the most vulnerable families.

A successful child poverty strategy would mean:

• A balanced diet food on every child’s table at every meal.

• Decent clothing on every child.

• Smiles on every child’s face.

• Quality education for every child.

• Good healthy living and medical support for every child.

• Good shelter for every child.

• Non discrimination for every child irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, social background etc.

Successful child poverty means for me, and my family, a happy, inclusive, safety, healthy and purposeful life.

And these are the things I would like to see.