Our Head of Education Policy Kate Anstey will be giving evidence in-person to the UK Govt Covid Inquiry today. You can watch the live-stream here: covid19.public-inquiry.uk/hearings/chi...

The secretary of state for education and the prime minister have been unequivocal in their commitment to reduce child poverty this week and all eyes are on the Budget to see that commitment delivered. 1/2

The Prime Minister’s confirmation that government is on a journey to end child poverty is welcome and this can only mean that the Budget scraps the two-child limit and benefit cap. Children and families have waited patiently and now it’s time for government to deliver.

🚨 Don’t miss our Welfare Rights Conference in Manchester on Wednesday 8th October. Join expert-led workshops & hear from our outstanding line-up of keynote speakers. Secure your spot today: bit.ly/4dH9gU8

Jonny said... It’s the insidious things about child poverty that really get to you and it's the children who are affected that we need to keep in mind [speaking at @cpaguk.bsky.social fringe chaired by @stephenkb.bsky.social ] Read more at www.bigissue.com/opinion/sing...

Setting out the daily reality of life on a low income, Jonny Roberts says 't’s getting to the end of the month and having to buy the cheapest oven thing Or persuading my son although his football boots are too small, he can make do until the next month [at @cpaguk.bsky.social fringe]

‘Child poverty isn't just about statistics or numbers, it's about individual kids. And the time for action is now, those kids cannot wait.’ - our director of policy Sara Ogilvie speaking at our event at #LabourConference25

Today, we're at Labour Party Conference where Jonny Roberts is speaking at a @cpaguk.bsky.social fringe setting out what action Labour needs to take in order to take decisive action on child poverty [sneak preview of what he may say here 🧵]

‘I have to have conversations with my daughter that you hope you wouldn't have to have with your children, about the fact that we just don't have much money’ - Jonny Roberts, @changingrealities.bsky.social speaking at our event at #LabourConference25

‘We are seeing children regularly who are struggling to get to their local doctor or health service because of poverty’ - Dr Mike McKean from @rcpch.bsky.social speaking at our event at #LabourConference25

Packed room for our #Lab25 youth town hall with @thefea.bsky.social, @cpaguk.bsky.social, EY Foundation, @marietidball.bsky.social and @lauramcinerney.bsky.social

‘The Child Poverty Taskforce was set up over a year ago and children and families simply cannot wait any longer for action.’ - our director of policy Sara Ogilvie speaks at #LabourConference2025

Out now: Child Support Handbook, 33rd edition Order your order today bit.ly/427zlY6

🚨 NEW: One million children in working families are affected by the two-child limit, new analysis by @cpaguk.bsky.social has revealed. 3 in 5 families impacted by the two-child limit are working, while a large majority who are not working have young children or are ill or disabled. 1/4

Hopefully there is now a clear understanding across govt that unless the two-child limit is scrapped, there will be more kids in poverty at the end of this parliament than when Labour took office. The policy must go in the child poverty strategy before the life chances of many more kids are damaged.

1 million children in working families are hit by the two-child limit. We asked parents how it affects them and their kids.

Our Welfare Rights Conference is almost here! 📍 Manchester – 8th October 📍 London – 23rd October Spaces are limited, book now to secure your spot: bit.ly/4dH9gU8

Low-income families and disabled people were, at most, an afterthought during the pandemic, with government’s primary intention to support higher-income households who had a sudden loss of income, CPAG told Baroness Hallett at the Covid inquiry today. cpag.org.uk/news/low-inc...

🗞️ New briefing on Ensuring the Child Poverty Strategy delivers for all children by Gingerbread, @cpaguk.bsky.social, @runnymedetrust.bsky.social, The Baby Bank Alliance & others: www.gingerbread.org.uk/our-work/news-and-views/ensuring-the-child-poverty-strategy-delivers-for-all-children/

🗞️ New research from @cpaguk.bsky.social shows that children from low-income families are being "bounced out of some subjects" at school due to prohibitive costs, a charity has warned. Read more here: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gcse-cost-music-child-poverty-action-group-b2817618.html

🏫 As children return to school this week, we've got some homework for the Government! By Sept 2026, policymakers need to have fully rolled out the #FreeSchoolMeals extension, updated standards and introduced a strong monitoring process. Watch to find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/4g7UYNt

New @cpaguk.bsky.social research shows secondary pupils on FSM are being ‘bounced out’ of subjects like geography, languages, music, and PE—not by choice, but due to cost. CPAG calls for scrapping the two-child benefit cap in the Autumn child-poverty strategy. 1/2

School costs can be a challenge all year round, but September often brings the biggest outlays on uniform and kit. Too many children in poverty miss out on the School Essentials Grant because the eligibility threshold has been frozen since 2019. Meanwhile, the cost of school keeps rising.

🚨 Today we launched a joint briefing with Gingerbread, @runnymedetrust.bsky.social @z2ktrust.bsky.social @praxisprojects.bsky.social and others on how child poverty affects different groups & the inclusive govt actions needed to tackle it. Link below ⬇️ bit.ly/47RgwvM

'There are a lot of households living in poverty in Wales who cannot currently access free school meals or the school essentials grant. They can't get help with the cost of school trips.' - Our senior education policy officer @ellieharwood.bsky.social quoted here www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'We didn’t have the right equipment for a DT project so had to buy some but it was near the end of the month so didn’t have enough so we had to leave it until pay day and then hand the homework late.' - The reality of school costs. Read more: cpag.org.uk/news/back-sc...

Parents face significant costs sending kids to school. Here are experiences from @changingrealities.bsky.social: Cara A: 'My children are not able to get... supplies because we do not have enough money. Some of their subjects require them to purchase textbook which cost around £30-£50.'

'I don’t think many people understand the mental gymnastics of parenting on a shoestring budget, and the fear and tiredness that accompanies that. It pushes a lonely space on our kids too.' - Evelyn D from @changingrealities.bsky.social on the pressure on families.

Coverage of our new research on the impact of subject costs on children in low-income families in @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/education/20...

NEW Secondary school children from low-income families are starting the new school year bounced out of some subjects by costs. 23% of those on FSMs say the cost or worries about the cost of taking a subject has prevented them from choosing a subject (compared to 9% of peers).

NEW - track key changes to health-related and disability benefits all in one place, from the Pathways to Work Green Paper, Universal Credit Bill and Employment Rights Bill: cpag.org.uk/welfare-righ...

Check out this free article from our latest Welfare Rights Bulletin: "To an acceptable standard" in PIP – Carri Swann unpacks this often-misunderstood test that could be key to entitlement. Read the article: bit.ly/3Jkps2J #PIP #DisabilityBenefits

'It's time to face facts and end the two-child limit on benefits' - our op-ed with other organisations www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

Joy or isolation? The reality of the school holidays for many children in poverty cpag.org.uk/news/joy-or-...

We’ve signed a letter with @cpaguk.bsky.social and leading children’s charities to call on the PM to take urgent steps to bring child poverty down. The UK government MUST step in to give children the best start in life, not a future of food banks. 💚

The new edition of Financial Help for Families: What you need to know is out now. Order your copy today: bit.ly/4okXGTu

Join us this autumn for our annual Welfare Rights Conference 📅 Manchester: Wed 8 Oct 📅 London: Thu 23 Oct A vital event for advisers navigating a time of renewed change in the benefits system. Secure your tickets: bit.ly/4dH9gU8 #WelfareRights #WRConf25

New research from @cpaguk.bsky.social shows thousands of children face a summer of hunger, isolation & hardship as families struggle without enough support. Parents say that the school holidays are, 'just another mountain to climb'. Read more 👉 cpag.org.uk/news/challen... #CostOfLivingCrisis

35% of lower-income parents said buying small treats for children such as an ice cream or fish and chips would be difficult or impossible this year.

Nearly two in five parents on lower incomes said they would find it either difficult or impossible to afford a day out with their kids this summer, such as to the beach. There will be more worry than wonder this summer for millions of desperate families who can’t make ends meet.

NEW - we asked parents in lower-income families about the summer holidays. 44% said they were likely to need a foodbank. 48% are more worried about being able to afford things for their children this summer holiday, compared to last year. cpag.org.uk/news/challen...

Our clients have provided their children with safe and loving homes but the rules have failed to protect them and their children from the impacts of the two-child limit. All eyes are on the govt to abolish the inhumane policy in the child poverty strategy. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Devastating stats from the @cpaguk.bsky.social & @rcpch.bsky.social survey of paediatricians. 🔸 99% reported that poverty is contributing to ill-health among children they treat. 🔸 96% said that poor housing conditions are affecting the health of children they treat. cpag.org.uk/news/child-p...

'Child poverty levels are rising & it’s no secret why. Every day, the 2-child limit pulls 109 more kids into poverty... After a year of careful inquiry, the govt knows there’s no credible path to reduced child poverty unless the policy is scrapped in full.' labourlist.org/2025/07/two-...

This research in the UK by @rcpch.bsky.social and @cpaguk.bsky.social looking into paediatricians' experiences of addressing the health impact of increasing child poverty is quite the wake up call. (see also the survey research CPAG does with teaching unions about teachers' experiences)

Children's doctors shared their views and frustrations about how child poverty is affecting their patients' health in our new report with @rcpch.bsky.social 'I am fed up of sending children back to homes that are making them sick.'

Our new report with @cpaguk.bsky.social reveals the worsening impact of child poverty on children’s health and growing strain on health services. One year since the Government’s Child Poverty Taskforce launched, the need for bold action is clearer than ever. 👇 cpag.org.uk/news/child-p...

One year on from the Child Poverty Taskforce launch, the govt has made strong commitments on free school meals, social housing, family hubs & crisis support. But success hinges on what is to be done on social security this autumn, as per this piece from @cpaguk.bsky.social , us and others

The testimony we heard from paediatricians for our report with @rcpch.bsky.social was heartbreaking: 'We hear of parents who make the [milk] powder stretch for the week. And instead of the usual five scoops, they put in three or four because the tin needs to last.'

‘A year on, children can’t wait. Starmer must end the two-child cap now’ – our opinion piece with other organisations on @labourlist.bsky.social labourlist.org/2025/07/two-...