Our reaction to the Child Poverty Strategy
The government has published its long-awaited Child Poverty Strategy, setting out a range of measures it says will lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030. If this is achieved, it would represent the largest reduction in child poverty in a single parliament since records began.
At Walton Charity, this commitment to reducing child poverty is welcome. We see the devastating impact of child poverty through our expanding grant-making programmes, our work at The Bridge and our foodbank, and through our long-standing relationships with local organisations working with families in Elmbridge.
The scale of child poverty in the UK
Child poverty in the UK remains unacceptably high. In 2023/24, 4.5 million children were living in relative low-income households - around 900,000 more than in 2010/11. Even more concerningly, around 2 million children are living in deep material poverty, meaning their families cannot afford essential items such as food, heating, or housing.
We know that the consequences of growing up in poverty are profound and long-lasting. Research shows that by the age of five, children eligible for free school meals are already five months behind their peers. By GCSEs, that gap has widened to more than 19 months. Later in life, adults who grew up in poverty are more likely to be unemployed or trapped in low-paid, insecure work, earning around 25% less than those who did not experience child poverty. There are also significant health impacts associated with poverty, and a lack of social mobility deepens these inequalities across generations.
What the strategy covers
The Child Poverty Strategy acknowledges the worsening child poverty and announces significant policies to bring about changes. The most significant of these is the removal of the two-child benefit limit, and you can read our full response here.
Other measures aimed at boosting family incomes and reducing the cost of essentials to lower the rate of child poverty include:
More accessible childcare for parents on Universal Credit returning to work, alongside the expansion of free childcare hours and the creation of additional school-based nursery places.
Extending free school meals to all children in households on Universal Credit from September 2026.
Investment in breakfast clubs.
Reducing the cost of infant formula.
Reducing the use of unsuitable temporary accommodation, including funding to end the illegal prolonged placement of families in bed and breakfasts.
Investment in Best Start Family Hubs.
Taken together, these measures recognise something we have known at Walton Charity for a long time: child poverty is not driven by a single, isolated issue, but by a combination of low incomes, high cost of living, childcare barriers, and inadequate social security. You can read our report on our foodbank clients that exposed the intersecting pressures that cause poverty here.
Reactions amongst the charity sector
Despite the positive policy announcements included in this strategy, some of those in the charity sector have expressed concern that the plans aren’t bold enough or legally binding. The government’s own analysis also suggests that around four million children will still be living in poverty at the end of this parliament. The Child Poverty Action Group welcome the announcement but state “there is much to do and we must now build on this momentum to achieve more tangible change for children”, which broadly echoes the general consensus of national charities in the families and poverty sectors.
Continuing our work
From our perspective, the risk is also that families with the complex challenges may continue to fall through the gaps, particularly families where parents are working and who are not entitled to government support. Demand for our foodbank and The Bridge (our shop-without-a-till for working families) continues to rise, with our busiest weeks on record happening just before Christmas 2025. This demand has prompted our plans to expand The Bridge into a pantry in the first half of 2026, so that we can support more families with household items and specialist advice.
We are pleased to see national action, but we know that it is on a local, personal level that child poverty is most keenly felt. Through our Poverty Truth Commission, we are gathering people in Elmbridge with direct experience of poverty and inequality with civic and business leaders, ensuring lived experience shapes decisions.
Our grant-making also supports organisations providing practical help, wraparound services, and advocacy and advice for families struggling financially. We see every day the importance of this flexible and proactive support, and the positive impact that dignified and client-led services have on our community.
This strategy is a welcome sign of progress, but we want to see more being done to fully break the cycle of child poverty. At Walton Charity, we will continue to listen to, and advocate for, families affected by poverty and adapt our support to best meet the needs of our community.
Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Policy and Communications Officer