Keep up the pressure to battle child poverty

The impact of child poverty also has serious long-term implications. With children growing up in poverty almost twice as likely to leave school without qualifications, they have significantly lower employment opportunities, leaving the cycle of poverty unbroken. In addition to this tragic waste of potential, the TUC estimates that child poverty costs the economy £40bn per year through loss of economic productivity and additional costs faced by the government in healthcare and increased crime.

Initiatives encouraging workless families back into employment or training and providing affordable childcare are crucial to achieving success. Children's centres are an ideal place to engage parents. At Palfrey Children's Centre in Walsall, mothers have been encouraged to engage through culturally sensitive outreach work and attend activity sessions. In conjunction with Jobcentre Plus, parents are then given help and support to identify and follow their career and training aspirations, from one-to-one discussions to open days where parents can meet training providers. The centre has also set up NVQ and English language courses at community venues where there has been high take-up among parents.