Introduction
We were delighted to be part of the the scoping exercise undertaken by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council when working towards this new mission statement stating their intent to commit to tackling child poverty in the borough.
The statement
The evidence is clear: your early years can set the foundation for the rest of your life. Growing up in a safe, stable, and prosperous environment gives a child every chance of thriving and fulfilling their dreams.
In Redcar and Cleveland there is much to be proud of and much to be optimistic about – but the level of child poverty is holding us back. This means that some of our children are going without food and clothing, and families are struggling to earn enough to cover their bills. The long-term impact is poorer health, lower educational attainment, and higher likelihood of not being in employment, education or training. This is therefore not just a moral imperative but an economic one; if we address this issue, we can boost productivity and unlock growth.
We must act now to seek to reduce and mitigate the impact of poverty and improve the life prospects of our children now and in the future.
Child poverty is a complex and multi-faceted matter, one which is not easily or quickly solved. What is clear, though, is that in order to make a difference, the Council, schools, public sector partners, the voluntary sector, businesses and others must come together as one community.