Stuart GouldenCity of York has launched ambitious plans to tackle child poverty, with 4,700 children and young people estimated to be currently experiencing poverty in the city.
The Child Poverty Strategy has been drawn up with the help of partner organisations and young people and aims to help support the children who live in poverty in York, as well as preventing more children from growing up in poverty in the future.
Although the level of childhood poverty in York is about half the regional and national average, figures suggest that there are approximately 4,700 children and young people in poverty with 3,000 children of those living in severe poverty.
Child poverty is concentrated in particular areas in York: five wards (out of 18) contain two thirds of the children in poverty and even within those wards there are small pockets of more concentrated deprivation where up to four out of ten children will be living in poverty. Particular groups where poverty is markedly higher than average include children in single parent households and children in families where there is disability.
Councillor Janet Looker, Cabinet member for Education, Children & Young people’s services, launched the strategy at the Priory Street Centre on Tuesday 20 December.
Cllr Janet Looker, said: “This is one of the most important strategies we can develop and co-ordinate. A child in poverty will struggle to achieve all the most important milestones, and will probably enter school already at a significant disadvantage. This is a whole city issue and we must all work together to meet some ambitious targets.”
The City of York Child Poverty Strategy calls for all the York community to work together to:
- Support the life chances of children and families, so poverty in childhood does not translate into poor experiences and outcomes.
- Schools, childrens centres other agencies and the community working together in disadvantaged areas of the city to Narrow the Achievement Gap.
- York has seen a steady fall in Teen Pregnancy in past two years.
- Support development of employment and adult skills so more families are in work that pays and have the support they need to progress.
- Develop Adult Learning to support parents to gain work ready skills
- Ensure more flexible childcare to enable parents to work.
- Support families to improve their finances to help themselves move out of poverty – so financial support is responsive to families’ situations.
- Supporting initiatives like Credit Union and, organisations like Citizens Advice Bureau.
- Ensure that the environment in which children live supports them.
- Concentrating efforts in those neighbourhoods with most need to tackle cause and effect of child poverty.
