Lambeth Child Poverty Reduction Strategy 2011-14

Helping to make a difference to the lives of children and young people in the borough

Poverty has a significant impact in Lambeth. The borough is placed 10th amongst London Local Authorities with the highest number of children and young people in poverty, and 15th in the UK.

The latest Government figures show that 59.1% of children and young people are living in poverty in Lambeth; that is children and young people who live in families in receipt of out of work benefits or tax credits where reported income is below 60% of the national median income. This is 13.6 percentage points higher than UK and 7.6 percentage points higher than London.

Following extensive consultation, Lambeth Council and partner organisations have developed a Child Poverty Reduction Strategy 2011-14 to address this serious issue in the borough.

The Strategy identifies 4 overarching priorities to reduce child poverty in Lambeth:

1. Reduce parental worklessness
2. Maximise family income and improve benefits take-up
3. Raise aspirations of children, young people and families and improve take-up of services
4. Improve child wellbeing and children’s life chances

4 key objectives have been identified to achieve the priorities with a number of actions included in the Strategy Delivery Plan to meet these:

1. Increasing opportunities for parents to enter employment, education and training and support adults in gaining the skills, including volunteering
   
2. Tackling financial exclusion including debt management, financial literacy, affordable credit and maximising benefit take-up
3. Raising the attainment and aspirations of children, young people and their families to ensure they do not become poor adults and perpetuate the poverty cycle in future communities
4. Improving services to families particularly childcare and other parenting support, and ensuring all services are ‘thinking family’

The progress in achieving these priorities and objectives will be monitored by the Child Poverty Strategy Implementation Group, chaired by Ade Adetosoye, Divisional Director Specialist and Commissioning Services, Children and Young People’s Service.

For further information, please contact Roy Gopaul, Commissioning Development Manager, Children and Young People’s Service 
rgopaul@lambeth.gov.uk 

Permalink: http://www.lambethfirst.org.uk/childpovertyreduction2011-14

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