TO BE PUBLISHED May 2026
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This conference will examine priorities moving forward for tackling child poverty in the UK.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to examine the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy and recent commitments including expanding free school meals, the Better Futures Fund, and additional local authority investment.
Delegates will assess implications of these measures for reducing the rates and adverse impacts of child poverty, alongside reform outlined in the 2025 Autumn Budget, such as removal of the two-child benefit cap and changes to the National Minimum Wage. Sessions will also discuss stakeholder roles, key considerations in scheme design, and wider priorities for further lowering child poverty rates.
The conference will be an opportunity to draw on early findings from the Realising potential: Delivering the Child Poverty Strategy inquiry, looking at key issues including social security reform, practicalities for local support delivery, and accountability.
Implementation & delivery
Attendees will consider the strategy’s practical reach across education inequality, housing conditions, and children’s health, with discussion on implications for partnerships and local delivery models. It comes with concern from some that ambitions in the strategy toward improving local capacity to tackle poverty lack clear aims or measurable objectives. Areas for discussion include priorities for Best Start Family Hubs, integrated care systems, and multi-agency partnerships, looking at the impact of varying provision across localities and drawing on effective regional practice.
In assessing priorities for strategic alignment across services, sessions will examine long-term implications of local government reorganisation, measures in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - currently progressing through Parliament - considering how the Government can work with the UK’s devolved governments to set targets and monitor the progress of the strategy.
Options for more effectively monitoring outcomes will be considered, including the use of household income data, risk indicators, and wider impact measures, with discussion on implications for more informed longer-term planning.
Oversight, accountability & assessing outcomes
Effective approaches to accountability will be discussed, exploring potential utilisation of statutory targets, shared outcome metrics, and independent oversight - with new legal duties for councils to notify schools, health visitors, and GPs when a child is placed in temporary accommodation. With concerns from some regarding the lack of legally-binding targets for cutting child poverty rates, delegates will consider long-term priorities and expectations for prevention, practicalities for putting in place effective support, and for addressing regional disparities.
Support in schools & community spaces
In light of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and Every child achieving and thriving White Paper, the agenda examines the role of schools and staff support for children’s daily welfare, looking at safeguarding, implications of SEND reform for EHCP access and quality, and wider system responsibilities. The rollout of free breakfast and youth clubs will be assessed, alongside discussion on practical approaches for teaching and pastoral staff to improve participation and attainment.
Wider alignment with the National Youth Strategy will also be discussed, including how access to youth spaces, extracurricular activities and enhanced health-based support can best contribute to longer-term rates of young people not in education, employment or training. Delegates will consider the role of community organisations and those with lived experience in shaping delivery of schemes such as the Better Futures Fund and Pride in Place initiative, and implications of outcomes-based funding models such as social impact bonds for the design and operation of future support.
Support for parents & carers
Further sessions consider priorities for initiatives aimed at widening access to secure employment for parents - particularly lone parents and those facing systemic barriers. Areas for discussion include how funding can best be targeted to maintain job security and career progression for parents and carers. Eligibility and access to childcare will also be examined, with discussion on the effectiveness of 30 hours of funded childcare per week in England, the introduction of Best Start Family Hubs, and reform to cut the cost of baby formula.
The impact on family security of measures introduced in the Employment Rights Act 2025 will be assessed, including day-one rights, and further protection from dismissal during pregnancy and for new mothers, alongside wider considerations for reducing health-based barriers to the workforce. Delegates will also examine priorities for building up financial resilience to cost of living shocks and job loss, including priorities for social security reform, employment support and community-based support, including through the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Housing standards, homelessness & prevention
Approaches to tackling extreme poverty will also be considered, including strategies to reduce long-term reliance on emergency accommodation, aligning with the Homelessness Strategy, and assessing the effectiveness of current preventative measures. The potential impact and deployment of £39bn funding for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme and additional support through the Local Authority Housing Fund will also be discussed, alongside further reform aimed at improving housing standards and energy efficiency, such as Awaab’s Law, the transition towards the Decent Homes Standard, and the Warm Homes Plan.
Support for health & early years
Further sessions will assess priorities for strengthening health‑based support aimed at helping mitigate the wider impacts of child poverty, drawing on emerging evidence of links between low income and poorer health outcomes across childhood. Discussion will consider the role of early years provision and integrated health support in addressing developmental delays and preventable ill‑health, including priorities for family hubs, employer support, health visiting, and mental health services. Discussion is also expected on strategies for reducing the risks of long-term economic inactivity for guardians, and supporting families before issues escalate.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include a parliamentary pass-holder from the House of Commons and officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
