Action for Children responds to Chancellor's Spending Review

Action for Children’s director of policy and campaigns, Imran Hussain, said:

“Like every other spending review of the past decade, children have been put to the back of the queue, today. And like every other spending review of the past decade, the effect of this short-sighted approach will be seen in rising child poverty and greater pressure on a whole range of public services including schools, the NHS and council-run child protection services.

“Poverty-producing policies and the pandemic mean a new wave of families have been thrown into financial uncertainty, with ever-growing numbers of parents losing jobs, having their pay cut, or being furloughed. Action for Children’s key workers have been relentlessly delivering life-changing support to families – all while frontline children’s services are at breaking point, school budgets are under pressure and unemployment continues to soar.

“It’s not right that low-income families face a £1000 cut to their Universal Credit help from next year – adding even more stress to a second lockdown, the arrival of winter and with Christmas around the corner. The Government must put this right now to prevent a generation of children from being scarred by poverty and the pandemic, which would carry significant long-term costs to public finances.”

ENDS

Arron Williamson – 07718 244 125 / [email protected]

Out of hours: 07802 806 679 / [email protected]

Action for Children protects and supports vulnerable children and young people by providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives. With 476 services in communities across the country, the charity helps more than 387,000 children, teenagers, parents and carers a year.