Child and family poverty in the UK is at a critical level. Today, 4.5 million children live in relative poverty, with 3.1 million in deep poverty. With the UK Government’s Child Poverty Task Force set to report its findings in Autumn 2025, this policy briefing by Sue Jarvis, Eustace de Sousa, Dave Bradburn and Matt Ashton – drawing on work from Cheshire and Merseyside – highlights the potential of systems-based, place-focused approaches to tackling poverty.
The briefing:
- outlines why local systems can mobilise cross-sector collaboration across health, local government, and the voluntary sector
- develops a practical framework centred on maximising household income, supporting families, and creating inclusive places
- explains why a shared vision and multi-sector leadership are essential to effective local action.
This policy briefing demonstrates how place-based innovation can inform a coherent national strategy to reduce child and family poverty and deliver long-term structural change.
Tackling child and family poverty through a place-based lens [PDF 0.8MB]
DOI: 10.17638/03172474
Image credit: Photo by Rafael Garcin on Unsplash
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