This briefing sets out the six essential components for an effective Child Poverty Strategy, informed by new research with 51,000 young people
Summary
On current trajectories, more than one in three children in the UK will be living in poverty in 2029/30. Reversing this trend and reducing child poverty within this Parliament must be the focus of the government’s forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy.
New data from Barnardo’s and VotesforSchools gathered views from 51,000 young people on child poverty between 28th April and 2nd May 2025. A clear majority - 64% - of the 39,000 secondary and college students who took part want the UK Government to make ending child poverty a top priority. 90% of the primary school students who took part want UK leaders to make sure all children’s needs are met.
Our polling with Public First from 11th – 14th March 2025 found that 89% agree no child should be living in poverty in the UK. 3 in 4 adults (74%) think that the UK government has a role to play in addressing child poverty, followed by local government (64%) and parents (55%).
Barnardo’s has set out six essential elements for the Child Poverty Strategy to deliver transformational change for children:
- Measurement & Accountability: A target to reduce child poverty to no more than 28% in this Parliament, alongside milestones to halve child poverty in 10 years and eradicate it in 20 years. The Strategy also needs a clear accountability framework with regular updates to Parliament.
- Safety Net: Ending the two-child limit and benefit cap or equivalent measures, to create a safety net for all children.
- Tackling Structural Inequalities: sub-targets and measures to support children disproportionately likely to be living in poverty, including Black and Asian children and migrant children and families with no recourse to public funds.
- Hunger & Poor Nutrition: extending eligibility for free school meals to all households in receipt of Universal Credit and implementing auto-enrolment.
- Support in Every Community: investing in early intervention and establishing a family centre in every community.
- Leadership & Focus: A cross-ministerial group chaired by the Prime Minister to deliver.