The Government has today published its long-awaited Child Poverty Strategy which it hopes will lift around 550,000 children out of poverty.
Barnardo’s chief executive Lynn Perry said:
“Poverty is stealing children’s childhoods. Instead of playing with their friends or focussing on school, too many children are worrying about where their next meal will come from or feeling scared about the stress they see in their parents’ eyes as they open yet another red bill. Children across the UK deserve so much better.
“On behalf of all 550,000 children who will be lifted out of poverty thanks to this new Strategy, we warmly welcome the Government’s actions – from the expansion of free school meals to the removal of the unfair two-child limit on benefits – and also the promise to make sure children have a safe and stable home.
“Whist this is a landmark moment, we must also remember that even with these important changes, close to four million children are still set to be living in poverty in 2029. We must work together as a society to change this. Every child deserves the chance to dream, learn and play without poverty holding them back.”