As part of a mission to tackle child poverty, representatives of organisations from across the North East have come together at the region’s first-ever Child Poverty Summit.
Hosted by South Tyneside Council, the summit offered an insight into the picture of the child poverty situation in the South Tyneside area, whilst also allowing partners to establish the actions that will form the council’s Child Poverty Strategy. The summit was shaped by the area’s young people, which resulted in a number of key themes emerging, including food insecurity, the threshold for free school meal provision, and the challenges facing families and young people.
Leader of South Tyneside Council Cllr Tracey Dixon said:
“It is impossible not to feel emotional when you hear the conditions that many of our families are living in. There are staggering levels of child poverty within our borough and region. We know that almost a third of young people in South Tyneside are living in poverty and the impact of that on children's lives and childhoods can be linked to low birth weight in babies, poor physical and mental health and much more.
“While there is a huge amount of work going on to alleviate poverty in South Tyneside, most of the levers to action real change are still in the control of central government and we are lobbying hard for change. Instead of dealing with the effects of poverty, we need to stop people being in poverty in the first place.
“The summit highlighted the commitment and determination of people to work together to address child poverty and it was heartening to see all the positive interventions in place, including the work with young people and schools. We made poverty a priority long before the cost-of-living crisis hit. We’ve worked collaboratively with partners and the third sector, and it is that co-operative approach that sets South Tyneside apart and has enabled us to do so much for those most in need of support. But we must do more! The Summit sent a clear and resounding message: together, we can address child poverty, we need change and quickly.”
Following the summit, the council has made a commitment to a number of actions, these include:
- Raising the key issues from the summit with the North East Combined Authority and the government
- Improving support for schools to reduce the costs of the school day
- Supporting parents who are just above the Free School Meal threshold
- Encouraging the take-up of Free School Meals
- Rolling out baby boxes to new parents
- Providing welfare support within Family Hubs
- Expanding advice offered on financial matters and sustainable cooking
Kim McGuinness, Mayor of the North East, also commented:
"Tackling poverty child poverty is the biggest challenge we face in the North East and my number one priority as Mayor. Poverty is holding families and our region back. That's why I've established the Child Poverty Reduction Unit, which will tackle the issue head-on. We're investing in more affordable childcare, more social housing and more good jobs to create the foundations for a North East free of poverty, as well as making sure public transport is more affordable for hard-pressed families.
"However, we know there is much more to do. South Tyneside Council and Cllr Dixon have led the way on this agenda, showing that it is possible to tackle poverty and create opportunity with political will, leadership and a clear and comprehensive plan. That's the approach I want to take across the North East, so no more of our young people are held back and can fulfil their potential."
The summit, and the strategy that will emerge from it, are built on the foundations of work that has been done by the council since it established its Poverty Commission in 2020. A South Tyneside Poverty Group has already been established, with this leading to a raft of support being offered throughout the cost of living crisis.
Image credit: iStock
