Every Child Every Chance – Inverclyde Child Poverty Event
Services and organisations working to eradicate child poverty have come together for the first time at a conference in Inverclyde.
Taking place during Challenge Child Poverty Week 2018 the event was designed to discuss and plan how it can be achieved.
Inverclyde Council Leader Councillor Stephen McCabe said: “Clearly collaboration is key to bringing resources together that can make lives better for those experiencing the greatest inequalities.
“We are already doing a lot in Inverclyde to mitigate against child poverty – from the success of improving literacy and numeracy for children in school, providing holiday clubs and supporting parents to encourage them to be involved in their children’s learning.
“But it is important that we discuss new approaches – however radical – to tackle the inequalities and poverty that exist in our community.”
Last year Scotland became the only part of the UK with statutory targets to tackle child poverty after the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament.
Councils and health boards must now report every year on what they are doing to contribute to reducing child poverty with the aim of reducing child poverty by 2030.
Councillor McCabe added: “Too many children – more than one in four – are living in poverty in Inverclyde. That is simply not acceptable.
“We need to take urgent action now both to help these children and to prevent future generations of children growing up in poverty.
“Tackling child poverty, alleviating the financial strain on low income households and improving the living standards of families in poverty is key creating thriving, healthy and sustainable communities across Inverclyde.”
The targets set out in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 to be achieved by 2030.
• Less than 10% of children are in relative poverty
• Less than 5% children are in absolute poverty
• Less than 5% of children are in combined low income and material deprivation
• Less than 5% of children are in persistent poverty
Photograph:
Conference keynote speakers. (LtoR) Dr Rosie Ilett, Glasgow Child Poverty Co-ordinator, Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland; Dr Stephen Sinclair, Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit (SPIRU); Sara Spencer, Cost of School Day Project Manager, CPAG; Ruth Binks, Corporate Director, Education, Communities & Organisational Development, Inverclyde Council