Senior Faith leaders from across the country are joining forces today (Sunday 23 March 2025) in an urgent call for the government to be ‘bold and ambitious’ in its forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy. The call comes in an open letter to the co-chairs of the Ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, Bridget Philipson, Secretary of State for Education, and Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The letter is signed by 35 senior faith leaders from Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist traditions, including representatives of the Baptist Union, Methodist and United Reformed Churches, and the Church of Scotland. It was coordinated by the Joint Public Issues Team.
Currently 4.3 million children – three in 10 children in the UK – are living in poverty, and without further action a further 400,000 are likely to be pulled into poverty by the end of the decade. The Prime Minister promised during the last election that his government would introduce an ambitious plan to lift ‘millions’ of children out of poverty.
The letter says: “We write to you as faith leaders from communities across the UK, to encourage you to be bold and ambitious in your upcoming Child Poverty Strategy.” It goes on, “While we come from different faith traditions, we share a belief that working to end poverty should be a hallmark of any decent, compassionate society. We also believe that transformational change is possible. We are hopeful that the Child Poverty Strategy could be a turning point for the communities we serve, and we are ready to work in partnership with people of goodwill across society to ensure that every child has the start in life they deserve.”
The letter highlights the findings from ‘Paying the Price’, a new report from Action for Children released this week, which sets out measures that could lift 1.2 million children out of poverty by 2030. These include action to reform and invest in a more effective social security system, and steps to boost social housing and improve opportunities for income from employment. The research found that the single most cost-effective step would be scrapping the two-child limit and benefit cap.
Revd Helen Cameron, President of the Methodist Conference, said: “The levels of child poverty we are seeing in communities across the UK cannot be acceptable. With communities trying to pick up the pieces and support families who are struggling, it’s time for the government to step up too. We know it is possible to significantly reduce child poverty, and a social security system that enables families to afford the essentials will be a central pillar. The government must demonstrate that tackling poverty is a priority and make ambitious choices. We pray that the government’s strategy will rise to the challenges we face.”
Louise, a 24-year-old from London, faced poverty in childhood before going into foster care from the age of 11. She continues to struggle financially as a care-leaver, particularly as a young, single mum to her four-year-old daughter, battling child care expenses and the high cost of living.
On the launch of Action for Children’s new research, she said: “The impact of growing up in poverty is huge. It affected me physically, mentally and emotionally. Not eating enough food as a child affects your health, weight and concentration. You feel angry and confused. A child can’t understand why they’re excluded from school trips with their friends, or why they don’t have new clothes. You feel different. I felt like I was being punished. I didn’t understand we just didn’t have the money.
“As a care leaver, breaking the cycle of poverty and finding financial independence can be overwhelming and feel impossible at times. There are often barriers you don’t know how to overcome on your own as a young adult without the family support and guidance that others may take for granted.
“As a mum, I want the best for my daughter and to give her opportunities I didn’t have. It is motivation, but it also brings its own pressures. Even though I worked as much as I could, before she went to school, I was in my overdraft every month and relying on Universal Credit just to pay for childcare so I could keep my job. That isn’t right.
“I think there is more support needed not just for young people leaving care, but also for families with young children on low incomes, to help people stay in work, care for their children and thrive.”
Action for Children is inviting people to add their support to an open letter and write to their MP about the Child Poverty Strategy here: https://actionforchildren.uk/PayingThePrice-Faith