BASW joins calls for Government to place tackling child poverty at heart of Covid-19 recovery

The UK Government must work with the devolved governments, organisations such as BASW UK, and those with lived experience to prioritise the voices and needs of children and young people

BASW UK has added its name to an open letter calling on the Government to put ending child poverty at the heart of the Covid-19 recovery. 

The pandemic has seen a huge impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of communities and individuals, both in the UK and around the world. 

Child poverty across the UK was already increasing before the pandemic, with school budgets also under pressure, waiting lists for mental health services unacceptably long, and services supporting families and protecting children from abuse and neglect were at breaking point. The pandemic has added further problems, which has led to calls that supporting children and families should be a priority for all governments in the UK. 

Not all children are the same, and there will be many children and young people who require different types and levels of support; from unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and those from minority or marginalised communities, to those with disabilities and in need of mental health support. 

The UK Government must work with the devolved governments, organisations such as BASW UK, and those with lived experience to prioritise the voices and needs of children and young people. 

There must be action and investment to tackle poverty and the causes of poverty, as well as a greater focus on the mental health of children and young people taking account of the impact of the pandemic and its aftermath. 

This must include a commitment to earlier intervention and prevention of child and family poverty and crisis. This requires governmental action to ensure more effective, universal public social protection systems as well as properly funded, public and not-for-profit sector specialised support to give every child the chance to fulfil their potential.

We are proud to be members of the End Child Poverty Coalition and look forward to the day when child poverty is not an endemic national scandal.