North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has announced a £28.6 million investment to tackle child poverty, launching the most ambitious and coordinated regional intervention of its kind in England.
The Child Poverty Action Plan, set to be approved by the North East Combined Authority today, delivers on Mayor McGuinness’s pledge to put tackling child poverty at the heart of her mission to make the North East a region of real opportunity.
The plan includes a range of targeted interventions to support children and families at every stage of life:
- A North East health in pregnancy grant for expectant mothers on low incomes
- Expansion of baby boxes with essentials for first-time families on Universal Credit
- Year-round, low- and no-cost youth activities and pre-apprenticeship training
- Free public transport for care leavers up to age 25 and a £1 fare cap for all under-21s
Mayor Kim McGuinness commented:
“Tackling child poverty is my number one priority as Mayor, and today we will agree the biggest action plan of interventions in England as we take-on that challenge.
“We have unacceptable child poverty levels in our region and I can’t stand by and watch a generation be held back by hardship.
“That’s why our work has already started with the pilot of new childcare grants for parents getting back into work and my commitment as Mayor to a £1 flat fare on bus and Metro up to age 21.
“Today we will go much further, leading the way in England with £28.6 million of new projects that will be felt by our children and their parents even before they are born.
“We cannot start early enough to make a difference for our children, which is why we’ll be supporting pregnant mams with a new grant, delivering hundreds more baby boxes and making sure young people have a place to go with year-round free and low-cost activity programmes to inspire and prepare them for skilled apprenticeships and work.”
The plan also includes a wider programme of support for hard-pressed families, including:
- A regional commitment to ensure every child has their own bed
- Access to school uniforms for all children in need
- A new North East Warm Homes Taskforce to make rented homes warmer and more affordable
Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson added:
“Tackling child poverty is absolutely crucial if we are to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child across every part of our country.
“This task cannot be achieved by national Government alone, and I am proud to see the North East leading the way on addressing this issue at a regional level – driven forward by Mayor Kim McGuinness and her determination to both invest in children and families, and to bring together cross-sector partners in what has to be a collective endeavour.
“Doing this in a way that aligns and will add value to our work at a national level puts the North East Combined Authority area in a great position, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with Kim and regional partners on this issue.”
With one in three children—around 120,000—growing up in poverty in the North East, the plan aims to break the cycle and improve life chances. It aligns mayoral programmes with regional partners to ensure a unified, long-term approach to tackling poverty and driving inclusive economic growth.
The plan will be delivered between 2025 and 2030, following extensive engagement with communities, experts, and stakeholders at the region’s first Child Poverty Summit.
Image credit: iStock
