Council plan to focus on health and economic growth

They say it will break the cycle of child poverty

Focussing on health and economic growth will help break the cycle of child poverty in Plymouth, according to the city’s Tory-led council. 

They say their three-year plan will ensure Plymouth’s children are given the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

The child poverty action plan for 2022-25 was agreed by cabinet members on Thursday 6 October and focusses on four main priorities.

Cabinet members agreed economic growth in the city should be “felt by everyone” and the council should work with “private and voluntary sector partners to mitigate child poverty.”

Health and education are also key areas on which the council pledged to focus.  Its child poverty action plan aims to support children’s emotional and physical wellbeing and to continue the oral health improvement programme.

Councillors say the plan promises to improve literacy levels, support children in early years settings and give young people the skills to transition into adulthood.

Conservative councillor for Plymstock Radford and cabinet member for strategic planning, homes and communities Rebecca Smith said: “I’m incredibly proud of our new action plan which clearly outlines the steps that we, together with our partners, will be taking to support local families and children. 

“We can’t do this on our own and I’m delighted that we’re able to work so closely with partners from the private and voluntary sectors, as well as other public sector organisations, all of whom share our ambitions to break the cycle of child poverty.

“The plan’s four different themes give us a clear approach to tackling both the causes of child poverty, which includes helping parents into employment, and also the major symptoms. 

“We’ll be taking steps to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of children in Plymouth as well as providing opportunities for our children and young people to learn and to be inspired, setting them up for the bright future that every child deserves.”

Plymouth has seen a 63 per cent increase in the number of eligible children claiming free school meals. But DWP figures show more than 770 children living in low income families moved out of poverty between March 2020 and 2021.