Urgent call to tackle child poverty in the UK
First published on 10 July 2025
- Children
- Poverty
Leading public health experts have issued a statement highlighting the urgent need to address child poverty in the UK.
The joint statement from Public Health Scotland, Faculty of Public Health, Royal Society for Public Health, and Scottish Directors of Public Health, underlines the severe impact of child poverty on the health of the population, the economy, and public services.
Child poverty is a major driver of health inequalities and actively contributes to a reduction in life expectancy among affected children and their families. The harm poverty causes also leads to increased demand on healthcare, education, housing, and social care.
Today’s statement calls for an ambitious UK-wide strategy to eradicate child poverty, emphasising that prevention is both the right thing to do and the most cost-effective.
Within it, several key actions are recommended, including improving employment rights, raising the National Living Wage, and providing targeted financial support through the social security system.