North East mayor Kim McGuinness is spearheading a new plan to tackle child poverty after a significant summit with community leaders and organizations
Newcastle: A big meeting happened recently, and it’s all about tackling child poverty in the North East. Mayor Kim McGuinness is really pushing for change. She wants to make this her main focus while in office.
Last November, over 350 folks from different organizations gathered to brainstorm solutions. They’re planning more meetings soon, and an action plan is set to be presented in March. Amanda Bailey, who leads the North East Child Poverty Commission, is on board to help develop this plan.
Right now, more than 118,000 kids in the North East are living in poverty. In Newcastle, the numbers are pretty shocking, with about 33% of kids affected. While many believe the government needs to step up, the turnout at the summit shows a strong local commitment to tackle this issue.
Some ideas on the table include boosting family incomes, making work a better option for escaping poverty, and ensuring kids get a solid start in life. They’re even looking at a new childcare grant to help parents get back to work or training this spring.
They’re also considering ways to cut education costs, like providing free or low-cost school uniforms and expanding access to free school meals. Local businesses might join in by signing an Employer Poverty Reduction Charter, and there’s talk about addressing the gender pay gap to help more women find jobs.
Mayor McGuinness is optimistic, saying, “By 2025, we aim to make real progress on our child poverty action plan.” The summit was a hit, and she was thrilled with the enthusiasm to tackle child poverty head-on.
However, a recent report showed that child poverty rates are over a quarter in nearly every council area in the North East, except for North Tyneside. Rates have gone up in most areas since 2015, with only a slight decrease in Northumberland.
Researchers have pointed out that local child poverty levels are closely linked to the two-child limit policy, suggesting it’s a major factor in the problem. The incoming Labour Government has stated they lack the resources to lift the benefit cap, which complicates things further.
