What is Child and Family Poverty?
When children and families experience poverty and deprivation, they have a standard of living that is well below average and which most people would consider unacceptable in Britain today. Tackling income poverty and material deprivation is at the heart of the Child Poverty Act 2010. Research has shown that low income and material deprivation| are at the centre of a complex cycle of interaction between:
This complex cycle can harm children’s healthy development and can prevent children in poor families enjoying and achieving in childhood and reduce their aspirations for adult life.
Child Poverty Act 2010
The Child Poverty Act 2010| introduced new duties on responsible local authorities in England and their named partner authorities to complete a needs assessment| and develop a strategy| to address child poverty by March 2011. The duties came into force on 25 May 2010. The specific duties are to:
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Cooperate to put in place arrangements to work to reduce, and mitigate the effects of, child poverty in their local area;
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Prepare and publish a local child poverty needs assessment to understand the drivers of child poverty in their local area and the characteristics of those living in poverty; and
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Prepare a joint child poverty strategy setting out measures that the local authority and each named partner propose, to take to reduce and mitigate the effects of child poverty in their local area.
The Gateshead Strategic Partnership (GSP)| agreed that a ‘Gateshead Commission on Child and Family Poverty’ be established to coordinate, plan and develop a needs assessment and a strategy in line with the Act. The Commission is chaired by Baroness Joyce Quin, and has representation from a wide range of partners. The first meeting was held on 4 June 2010. It will meet until October 2010, when it will deliver a report to the Council and the GSP Steering Group on its findings.
The Role of the Commission is:
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To examine the nature, extent and consequences of child and family poverty in Gateshead
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To propose a strategy for addressing child and family poverty, and identify the changes and resources to deliver it
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To make recommendations to the GSP as the basis for the Gateshead response to the Child Poverty Act.
Terms of Reference for the Commission| and project team| can be found here.
What you can find out on these pages
Over the coming months these pages will be developed further and updated on a regular basis to bring you the latest developments and work of the Child and Family Poverty Commission.
You will be able to access key documents| (i.e. Child Poverty Act 2010) and find links to partner websites and sites of interest.|
Meeting papers will also be available to view and download. View meeting details and papers online|.
A timeline of work is in preparation and details of consultation| with groups and the local community will also be made available.