Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has unveiled the Government's plans to close the gap between rich and poor parts of England.
In response, Barnardo's interim co-CEO Lynn Perry said: "We welcome the Government’s commitment to levelling up opportunities across England. A key test of its success, however, will be whether it ‘levels up’ the life chances of children and young people.
"Child poverty is increasing, health inequalities for children are entrenched, the attainment gap for disadvantaged children has widened and the number of children in care is rising.
"The Government must prioritise progress on all these measures. Extending family hubs to every community in particular could help to provide support for struggling families and can save money in the long-term. Investing in children today will secure their wellbeing for the future.”