The government released its Child Poverty Strategy in December, pledging to lift “550,000 children out of relative low income in the final year of parliament”.
The strategy found that 31% of children are in relative low income in the UK. Children in poverty are more likely to experience poor physical and mental health, have worse educational attainment, experience homelessness and earn and work less in the future. Child poverty is widespread and affects children in our churches, schools and local communities.
The government has pledged to reduce child poverty by focusing on three main areas – boosting family income, driving down the cost of essentials and strengthening local support for families. The government has committed to be in partnership with local authorities, as well as private and third sector partners, and to invest in and empower local areas to act on child poverty. Some of the main local initiatives include:
- £500 million in funding to create 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs by 2028, so that there is one in every local authority area in England.
- The 4th round of the Local Authority Housing Fund; £950 million to help councils deliver good temporary accommodation housing options.
- The £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund to be launched in April 2026, which will enable local authorities to provide targeted preventative support needed in their areas.
Churches already play a large role in tackling child poverty, filling the gaps left by government services, with many running foodbanks, homeless support and debt advice amongst other support. Recent polling conducted by Evangelical Alliance member organisation Christians Against Poverty (CAP) shows that 23% of UK adults report that they, a family member or a friend received support for debt and poverty from a local church or Christian organisation in the last five years. The church has played and will continue to play a vital role in looking after the poor and vulnerable in our society.
What is the church’s vision to tackle child poverty locally?
Both the church and the government have a shared aim; both want to see children and households lifted out of poverty and given the chance to flourish within society. As the government is investing in local authorities in multiple ways, churches can take action by contacting their local officials and holding them accountable to their goals to end child poverty.
In Proverbs 31:8 – 9, we are told to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” and to “defend the rights of the poor and needy”. The church can best act in small ways, advocating for the ‘one’ in our local communities.
"The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 reminds us of the importance of ceaselessly pursuing justice."
The government strategy has identified some key drivers for child poverty, namely low family income, cost of living, geography, austerity in public services and caring responsibilities. The church can approach child poverty by identifying drivers within our communities and congregations and responding to need accordingly.
Where austerity has left public services behind, the church can be speaking to local councillors about provision of and access to local NHS services, children’s play spaces, libraries and Best Start Family Hubs. Where geography is a factor, and churches serve disadvantaged neighbourhoods, the church can act by building relationships with MPs, local councillors and mayors. It can then engage with them on regeneration plans for local areas and funding models such as the Crisis and Resilience Fund. For families in the cost-of-living crisis, churches can consider having a church relief fund to help ease the pressure.
By being proactive in identifying drivers of child poverty within our communities and building relationships with their council leaders, churches and organisations can play an important role in advocating for those most in need.
Poverty can stop with us
The struggles people face in 2026 will demand a collective response beyond anything seen in our history, writes CAP CEO Stewart McCulloch
