North East CA: North East Mayor kicks off grassroots plan to tackle child poverty

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has kickstarted a plan to tackle child poverty across the region and support families.  

The Mayor met with community leaders, charities, businesses and teachers in Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland and took part in a story time reading session with local pupils as she saw first hand work underway to help children get the best start in life. 

Kim McGuinness was joined at the event by Amanda Bailey, Director of the North East Child Poverty Commission, who has been appointed to lead the new unit's work. 

The Mayor announced plans to establish the country's first Child Poverty Reduction Unit (CPRU) last August and will personally oversee its work. Building on the regional child poverty summit convened by the Mayor in November, the Unit will meet with families and community groups in the seven local council areas across the North East over the next two months, to develop plans tailored to local  needs, and the strengths and opportunities of each part of the region. 

The draft action plan will be brought before the North East Combined Authority Cabinet for approval in March, with recommendations for investment to break down barriers to opportunity and bring down levels of child poverty, which stand at almost one in three in the region.  

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: 

“We are wasting no time in our fight against child poverty, and taking action to help families here and now, and put the foundations in place to ensure no child is left behind. 

“Child poverty is unacceptable. It's holding too many of our young people back and I've made this my number one mission as Mayor. That's why I set up the country's first Child Poverty Reduction Unit.   

“I've seen first hand the incredible work already underway to help kids fulfil their potential.  Now, we need to harness this action and ambition, scale it up – and go much bigger, further and faster to help more families. 

“We will develop a plan for every part of the North East, tailored to what local families need, starting from the grassroots, harnessing the power of our incredible community groups and charities to create the infrastructure of opportunity. 

“We must summon all our creativity, compassion and community spirit we're known for as a region. I know we will step up to the challenge, so together we can deliver for families and end the days where our children and region are held back by poverty.” 

CPRU Strategic Lead Amanda Bailey said: 

“Tackling child poverty - and all the barriers growing up in hardship can bring - is absolutely central to the future of our region.  It is exciting to be part of this first-of-its-kind and genuinely collaborative approach to addressing this issue, across sectors and organisations. 

“Crucially, the child poverty action plan we are creating is being developed in partnership with local communities across the region, who know their strengths and challenges, and what is needed to break down the barriers to opportunity in their area. 

“It will also build on, and support, the tireless work we know that hundreds of organisations are already doing to support children and families in their communities every single day.” 

The Mayor and Combined Authority have taken action to help more parents, children, teachers and schools, with £1.4 million invested to roll out support across 220 North East schools. The measures include financial advice ‘at the school gate'; help to cut the cost of the school day; and free after school clubs and learning sessions. 

In Northumberland, one of the projects being supported is Launchpad for Literacy, which supports children in early years with their reading skills, and support teachers to develop plans for their pupils. Grace Darling CoFE Primary School headteacher Sharon Cole said: 

“Tackling child poverty is essential to ensure that a child's life chances are not determined by their circumstances at birth, and that we break down barriers to opportunity and level the playing field. This cycle needs to be broken to help communities to prosper and flourish.” 

Henshaw Primary and Greenhead Nursery and Primary Schools have been involved in the ‘Reading Schools' programme developed by the Open University, to encourage children to read for pleasure to help their learning and life chances.  

Mike Glenton, Executive Head Teacher, said: 

“Being part of the Reading for Pleasure initiative has really made our schools consider and evaluate what more we can do to increase pupils' love of reading and interests in books. Our staff have created an imaginative action plan to entice children to choose reading. Being part of this project has led to children really thinking about their reading choices whilst expanding their ability to converse about what they like to read and why. The reading programme informs schools about the need for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to have the same access to books; ensuring equity for all.” 

The Mayor has appointed Amanda Bailey, Director of the North East Child Poverty Commission, to lead the CPRU's work and oversee the development of the region's child poverty action plan. 

Cllr Tracey Dixon, Portfolio holder for Education, Skill and Inclusion and leader of South Tyneside Council, said: 

“We are stepping up action to tackle child poverty right across the North East, listening to communities and families so they can help shape how we remove the barriers that are holding our young people back. Child poverty is the biggest challenge we face as a region and as local leaders we are all committed to helping families thrive - so everyone across the North East can fulfil their potential.”