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It is said to be the biggest drive of its kind in England, aimed at improving the lives of 120,000 babies, children and young people growing up below the breadline.
Funding for North East Mayor Kim McGuinness’ child poverty ‘Action Plan’ will be approved today, lasting until 2030.
It comes after Ms McGuinness put tackling the blight of kids living in poverty at the top of her list of priorities after being elected last year, and told the Echo she believed would be a key measure of her success.
The Mayor, who serves County Durham, Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, said: “Tackling child poverty is my number one priority as Mayor, and today we will agree the biggest action plan of interventions in England as we take-on that challenge.
“We have unacceptable child poverty levels in our region and I can’t stand by and watch a generation be held back by hardship.
“That’s why our work has already started with the pilot of new childcare grants for parents getting back into work and my commitment as Mayor to a £1 flat fare on bus and Metro up to age 21.
“Today we will go much further, leading the way in England with £28.6 million of new projects that will be felt by our children and their parents even before they are born.
“We cannot start early enough to make a difference for our children, which is why we’ll be supporting pregnant mams with a new grant, delivering hundreds more baby boxes and making sure young people have a place to go with year-round free and low-cost activity programmes to inspire and prepare them for skilled apprenticeships and work.”
The plan includes expanding a grant to cover childcare costs currently being trialled in County Durham, a new ‘health in pregnancy’ grant for expectant mothers on low incomes or Universal Credit, funding baby boxes filled with essentials for first-time families, and launching a ‘warm homes taskforce’ to retrofit homes and make them easier to heat.
According to the North East Child Poverty Commission 170,000 children here were living in poverty in 2023/24.
The Northern Echo called on politicians to prioritise action to lift youngsters out of deprivation in our Manifesto ahead of of last year’s General Election.
Education Secretary and Houghton and Sunderland South MP Bridget Phillipson said: “Tackling child poverty is absolutely crucial if we are to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child across every part of our country.
“This task cannot be achieved by national Government alone, and I am proud to see the North East leading the way on addressing this issue at a regional level – driven forward by Mayor Kim McGuinness and her determination to both invest in children and families, and to bring together cross-sector partners in what has to be a collective endeavour.
“Doing this in a way that aligns and will add value to our work at a national level puts the North East Combined Authority area in a great position, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with Kim and regional partners on this issue.”
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