If you are going to eat healthy like the
Government tells us, you have to spend a lot of
money. But you can't go out and buy these salads
and green vegetables living on £60 a week.

How to halve child poverty by 2010

About the report

This report, published by Barnardo's and Deloitte in September 2008, seeks to set out an affordable and realistic way in which the Government can meet its target to half child poverty by 2010, using brand new analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) specifically commissioned for this study.

Public finances are now under severe pressure and progress on child poverty has slipped. The Labour Government needs to demonstrate that child poverty really is its priority, and that meeting the historic challenge it set itself back in 1999 is something for which it is willing to make difficult decisions.

This report analyses the impact of the 2008 10p tax rate compensation package on child poverty and recommends a recycling of resources already spent supporting families. It then suggests three policy options, any of which could help the Government to meet its 2010 target to halve child poverty.

What this report shows is that meeting the 2010 target is not an impossible dream, it can be done and we have shown how the Government, if it is prepared to make hard choices, can still achieve it.

Click on the links below to download the full report and the summary document and supporting research from the IFS, specifically commissioned for this study.

Download How to halve child poverty by 2010 report (PDF)
Download How to halve child poverty by 2010 summary (PDF)

Click on the link below to download supporting research from the IFS, specifically comissioned for this study. This document also shows the difference that each of the three policy options will have on different types of families' weekly income.

Download IFS Research Barnardo's options for tax credit reform (PDF)

For more details please contact Kim Maynard, Policy Officer, kim.maynard@barnardos.org.uk or write to Barnardo's, Policy & Research Unit, Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG6 1QG.