Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity focused on ending the abuse of older people, says the Government’s newly published Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy is a long-awaited step forward – but warns it does not yet set out how abuse in later life will be recognised and tackled in practice.
The Strategy sets an ambition to halve VAWG over the next decade and focuses strongly on preventing abuse early, improving education and stopping perpetrators. Hourglass welcomes that direction – but says the delivery story is still largely written around younger victims, meaning older victim-survivors risk being left behind.
Richard Robinson, CEO of Hourglass, said: “We welcome the fact the Government has set out a ten-year strategy and a clear ambition to reduce violence and abuse.
“But if the goal is to halve VAWG, it cannot ignore the fastest-growing part of our population – older people – and the very different ways abuse shows up in later life.”
What Hourglass welcomes
A clear national ambition and a cross-government approach.
A strong focus on prevention and early intervention, including tackling harmful attitudes.
Recognition that everyone in society has a role, including adults and “older generations”.
Hourglass is named in the Strategy’s support list and a case study is published in supporting documentation – an important acknowledgement that older people need specialist help too.
Hourglass is concerned that the Strategy:
Barely mentions older victim-survivors, despite the UK’s ageing population and rising need.
Does not clearly explain how abuse in later life fits within VAWG delivery – including the role of health, social care and adult safeguarding, which are often the first (and sometimes only) services older people come into contact with.
Risks missing people already living with harm now, because prevention activity is largely centred on children and young people.
Hourglass explains that this is important as abuse in later life can include domestic abuse, coercive control, sexual abuse and economic abuse – often made worse by disability, dementia, dependency, isolation and barriers to disclosure.
Older victim-survivors may not describe themselves as victims at all, and they may be less able to leave safely without the right support in place.
Hourglass’s own service data shows the scale and the difference:
Since 2020, Hourglass has supported more than 32,000 older victim-survivors.
Demand for the 24/7 helpline has more than doubled over the same period.
44% of alleged perpetrators recorded by Hourglass are adult children – a pattern that does not fit the public stereotype of abuse. (All figures are drawn from Hourglass service data.)
Hourglass joins many in the VAWG sector in calling for stronger delivery and sustainable investment. Refuge and Women’s Aid have already warned that the Strategy does not go far enough and that funding for specialist services remains inadequate, with Women’s Aid calling for ring-fenced investment, including for “by and for” services supporting black and minoritised women and for child victims.
The Children’s Commissioner welcomed positive steps for children, including the development of “Child Houses” – underlining the need for age-specific approaches at every life stage.
Hourglass is calling on Government to strengthen delivery by:
Naming abuse in later life clearly within the VAWG framework and delivery plans.
Making older victim-survivors visible in policy, data and accountability measures.
Embedding age-competent, trauma-informed training across health, social care, policing and courts.
Investing in specialist support and pathways that work for older people, including those with care and support needs.
Ensuring long term funding pathways that sustain and invest in specialist services like Hourglass. A current six month funding proposal for 2026/27 puts jobs at risk.
Veronica Gray, Deputy CEO and Policy Director of Hourglass, added: “A strategy that doesn’t work for people in later life isn’t a strategy that works for everyone.
“We stand ready to work with Government on practical changes – so older victim-survivors are seen, believed, and supported.”
Former Heath Secretary Alan Milburn has launched his ‘groundbreaking’ investigation into the causes of record unemployment and inactivity among 16 to 24 year olds with a call for young people and experts to come forward with their views
DWP’s Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel and experts spanning health, business and government to support Alan Milburn’s investigation into the root causes of youth inactivity.
With almost one million young people not earning or learning the Call for Evidence kicks off a national conversation and seeks views from across society.
Former Health Secretary will publish an interim report in Spring to support the Government’s drive to create opportunity for young people.
With almost one million young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) Mr Milburn is leading an investigation into the causes of soaring unemployment in the young in recent years.
Yesterday he used the formal launch of the investigation to set out his ambition to inspire a ‘Movement’ to galvanise communities in all corners of the country.
As well as naming the panel – made up of health, business and policy experts – which will help him to come up with recommendations he launched a call for evidence to help shape the investigation, saying a ‘coalition of the concerned’ must mobilise to save a generation not earning or learning.
The inquiry comes as Government launches a major drive to get young people earning or learning, including a recent £1.5 billion investment over the Spending Review to help hundreds of thousands more into work or training through the Youth Guarantee, as well as apprenticeships places for up to 50,000 young people.
The Call for Evidence is open until 30 January 2026 and gives young people and their stakeholders the opportunity to shape Mr Milburn’s report and suggest life-changing solutions the government can bring forward. He is keen to canvas the views of anyone with experience of the issue – from young people themselves to their parents, football coaches and teachers.
He will take a radical, system-wide approach that matches the urgency of the task at hand.
This comes as almost one million young people (946,000) are not in education, employment or training – enough to fill Wembley Stadium ten times over – and the number of young people receiving health-related benefits has soared, with over a quarter of NEET young people now citing long-term sickness or disability as a barrier to participation. The risk of being NEET is over double if you come from a disadvantaged background and have low qualifications.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “Too many young people are being denied the opportunity to reach their full potential, and it is a crisis we cannot ignore.
“This Government has invested a further £1.5 billion to create thousands of work, training and apprenticeships opportunities, but to turn the tide on the longer-term trend we need to understand why so many young people have been left behind.
“That’s why I’ve asked Alan Milburn to help us build a system that supports them not just to find a job, but to build a better future – because when young people succeed, Britain succeeds.”
Mr Milburn has recruited both the DWP’s Youth Guarantee Advisory panel and experts with diverse expertise and lived experience to support his investigation into the root causes of the concerning rise in youth inactivity.
The panel will be mobilised immediately and will meet for the first time this week. It consists of:
Gavin Kelly – Chief Executive of the Nuffield Foundation and previous Chair of the Resolution Foundation.
Rachel Perkins – Clinical psychologist with over 30 years’ NHS experience and former Mind Champion of the Year
Ruth Owen OBE – CEO of Leonard Cheshire and disability rights advocate
Shuab Gamote – Co-author of ‘Inside the Mind of a 16-Year-Old’ and educational equality advocate
Sir Charlie Mayfield – Former Chairman of John Lewis Partnership and Chair of Keep Britain Working review
Tracy Brabin – Mayor of West Yorkshire
Andy Haldane – President-Elect of the British Chambers of Commerce and former Chief Economist at the Bank of England
Ravi Gurumurthy – Group Chief Executive Officer at Nesta
Lisa O’Loughlin – Principal and CEO of East Lancashire Learning Group
Dr Jennifer Dixon – Chief Executive of the Health Foundation
Baroness Louise Casey DBE – Social welfare sector expert.
Former Health Secretary and Chair of the investigation Alan Milburn said: “Nearly one million young people in Britain are not in education, employment or training – and that number has been rising for four years. This is a national outrage – it’s both a social injustice and an economic catastrophe.
“We need to create a movement – a coalition of the concerned – to help us understand what’s broken and what must change.
“Every young person, whatever their background, deserves the opportunity to learn or to earn. My report will be unafraid to shine a light on uncomfortable truths and recommend where radical change is needed.”
To launch the Call for Evidence, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden joined Alan Milburn at Boxing Futures in Peterborough to meet young people benefiting from local support programmes and heard directly about their experiences. The organisation works with NEET young people in the local community to support them onto a better path.
Boxing Futures’ CEO Anthony York said: “The high number of young people who are NEET is a serious and growing concern. At Boxing Futures, we work hard to ensure young people engage positively with education, training or employment.
“Our community-based, tailored programmes of non-contact boxing and therapeutic talk sessions tackle this head on, both as an early-intervention model and directly with young people who find themselves in this position.
“Working at the coalface of the youth sector, we see every day how vital these services are, and how much demand continues to grow. We are delighted the Government has made young people a priority and is now reversing a decade of declining investment in youth provision.”
The independent report will examine the drivers behind rising NEET rates and economic inactivity among young people and make recommendations for policy responses aimed at maximising opportunities for young people.
Alongside the Call for Evidence, the review is already engaging extensively with stakeholders, including a series of roundtables planned for the new year.
This is the latest step in the government’s work to support young people into employment or training. A £1.5 billion investment over the Spending Review was recently announced; £820 million to overhaul support and give nearly 900,000 young people across the UK support, and £725 million to rebalance apprenticeships towards young people and fully fund apprenticeships in small and medium sized businesses for eligible people aged 16-24.
Barry Fletcher, CEO at Youth Futures Foundation, comments: “With one in eight young people not earning or learning, the launch of Alan Milburn’s investigation marks an important step towards tackling this stubborn challenge.
“Evidence of what works, and the voices of young people themselves, will be essential to finding system-wide solutions that truly open doors to meaningful work and learning, for every young person.
“As the What Works Centre for youth employment we look forward to contributing our research and evidence alongside convening the Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel. We also urge others to share evidence and insights to ensure the review gains the most complete picture of this complex challenge.”
Ishrat, Youth Futures Foundation young ambassador and Youth Guarantee Advisory Group member, comments: “As a young person, I’m very hopeful about the government’s decision to launch an independent investigation into rising youth inactivity.
“Mental health conditions and disabilities are genuine barriers for us, and this inquiry is an opportunity to rethink how we can further support young people into work and education. I’m glad that our lived experiences are finally being recognised and valued. I have hope that the final report will lead to real, lasting change.”
Abigail Ampofo, interim Chief Executive of YoungMinds said: “With so many young people struggling with their mental health, this investigation is a huge opportunity to get to the heart of the reforms that are needed to ensure that no young person is left alone with their mental health, and unable to learn, work, and achieve their ambitions as a result.
“We particularly welcome the commitment to hearing from young people from all backgrounds as we know that young people from Black and racially minoritised communities often experience systemic barriers to accessing the same level of support as their peers.”
Vital chemical production at Grangemouth protected as Government provides over £120m support package in £150m joint investment
UK Government provides over £120m support package as part of £150m joint investment with INEOS to protect vital chemical production and 500 jobs at Grangemouth, plus hundreds more in the supply chain.
Unique plant strategically important for UK’s critical national infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, North Sea operations and modern Industrial Strategy.
Deal secures operational commitment from INEOS for the plant and multimillion-pound investment from the company.
Britain’s last ethylene plant at Grangemouth has been saved by the UK Government – securing 500 good jobs and hundreds more across the region in the supply chain.
Thanks to a landmark partnership between the UK Government and INEOS, the future of this vital site is now protected, sending a clear signal: this Government is backing workers and their communities across the whole of the UK.
With over £120 million in UK Government support and major investment from INEOS, the Grangemouth plant will stay open with jobs secured.
This huge win keeps the heart of Scotland’s industry beating strong, supports local families, and keeps critical supply chains running nationwide.
This package will help secure the site’s operations and contribute toward improving energy efficiencies, reducing carbon emissions and increasing productivity, helping to secure the site’s long-term competitiveness and sustainability. INEOS has spent over £100 million over the last year maintaining operations at the site.
The Grangemouth plant is vital for the whole UK economy. It produces ethylene which is essential for medical-grade plastics and use in the chemical supply chain. These plastics are also vital to key industries, including advanced manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace, where they are used in nearly every product.
The decisive action from the UK Government is part of its modern Industrial Strategy, which identifies chemicals as a vital foundational sector that underpins the UK’s high-growth industries like defence and advanced manufacturing by producing the materials they all depend on, while also being essential to many supply chains.
The UK Government is backing the chemicals sector through the Industrial Strategy with targeted support to bring down energy costs, including through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme – which will slash costs for businesses in sectors including chemicals by up to 25% – and the British Industrial Supercharger, which will save Britain’s most energy-intensive firms money on their electricity costs.
The plant also links to the Forties Pipeline System, which is key for transporting North Sea oil and gas to onshore facilities. Without government intervention, the plant’s closure would have seriously affected hundreds of onsite workers, impacted thousands of jobs regionally, and devastated supply chains.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle formally announced the support yesterday (17 December) during a visit to the INEOS site in Grangemouth with the Chancellor and Scotland Secretary.
Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said: “When we said we’d protect jobs and invest in Britain’s future, we meant it – and this is proof.
“Through partnership, determination, and our Modern Industrial Strategy, we’re delivering new opportunities, fresh investment, and security for the next generation of workers in Scotland.
“This is about good jobs, stronger communities, and a modern economy that works for everyone.
“Our commitment is clear: to back British industry, to stand by hardworking families, and to ensure places like Grangemouth can thrive for years to come. Promise made, promise delivered.”
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “The UK Government’s decision to step in will protect Grangemouth as a site of strategic national importance and secure 500 vital jobs in the area.
“By partnering with INEOS we are backing the plant and its long-term future, giving certainty to workers and the supply chain going forward.
“This approach is part of our Modern Industrial Strategy through which we are working to reduce the cost of energy for industry and support manufacturing in the UK.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “We said we would stand squarely behind communities like Grangemouth and we meant it.
“Building on the millions of pounds we’ve already invested in Grangemouth, this vital package protects our national resilience and secures the livelihoods of hundreds of people employed at the site way into the future.”
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “The UK Government is investing £120 million today to protect jobs and secure future opportunities at Grangemouth.
“Grangemouth has been at the heart of Scotland’s industrial story for generations, and today we’re ensuring it remains central to our future.
“This is a landmark moment for Grangemouth. This £120 million UK Government investment protects not just the 500 jobs at the plant, but thousands more across Scottish supply chains.”
The Scottish Secretary @D_G_Alexander visited Grangemouth as the UK Government confirmed a £120m investment in @INEOS ethylene operation, safeguarding over 500 jobs and protecting vital national infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/ijgWiryJr2
INEOS CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “This £150m investment in the future of a major UK industrial site demonstrates INEOS and the UK Government’s commitment to British manufacturing. The support of the UK Government is welcome as we work to deliver competitive and efficient low-carbon manufacturing for the UK, long term.
“UK Government support for INEOS’ investment shows the strategic importance of making things in Britain. It protects 500 high-value jobs, secures supply chains and preserves the industrial capability the nation needs.”
Through the partnership, INEOS and the UK Government have demonstrated their commitment to operating the site and maintaining jobs. The agreement includes safeguards to protect taxpayers’ money, such as strict assurances that the funding can only be used to improve the site, and also gives the UK Government the right to share in future profits.
The chemicals sector across Europe has faced significant challenges in recent years, including high energy costs, with around 40 percent of remaining European ethylene capacity having recently closed or remaining at risk.
The partnership demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to working with business to support Scotland and Scottish workers, and contributes towards government’s vision for Grangemouth’s long-term future.
This vision includes £200 million of investment from the National Wealth Fund to support new opportunities in Grangemouth, with projects actively being considered and around 140 enquiries already received.
Last week it was announced that around 310 jobs will be supported over the next five years by the Scottish company MiAlgae, that has started construction on its first commercial scale manufacturing facility that will transform whisky waste into fish-free Omega 3 following £3 million in UK and Scottish government backing.
To support workers at the nearby Exxon Mobil Mossmorran plant which is to close in February 2026, the UK and Scottish governments as well as Fife Council will set up a taskforce to ensure those impacted have the best chance of securing well-paid and valuable employment.
The Grangemouth Training Guarantee will also be expanded to those workers who provided shared services to the refinery, providing new opportunity across local communities.
The UK Government is also working to tackle the challenges of high industrial energy prices at source for Scottish and UK businesses through the modern Industrial Strategy, launched in June.
This includes increasing the discount on eligible businesses’ electricity costs from 60 to 90% through the British Industrial Supercharger scheme, and consulting on the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS), which will slash electricity costs by up to 25% for over 7,000 UK businesses.
Robert Begbie, CEO Commercial & Institutional, NatWest commented: “As the UK’s biggest bank for business, accelerating regional growth is a key priority for us at NatWest.
“We know that this vital funding will support Ineos Grangemouth in remaining a critical site for our national resilience and prosperity, whilst helping protect jobs in Scotland and beyond.”
£20 MILLION PRIDE IN COMMUNITIES CASH FOR NIDDRIE, BINGHAM, MAGDALENE & THE CHRISTIANS
Local communities are at the heart of Scottish life – and the UK Government is today announcing the 14 neighbourhoods each receiving up to £20 million to restore pride in their area and open doors to new opportunities.
In September the UK Government confirmed that the Pride in Place Programme will see up to £280 million shared among 14 neighbourhoods in 12 Scottish local authorities over 10 years to precisely target areas which can benefit most from a wide range of regeneration projects.
The local authorities selected have both the highest deprivation levels and weakest social infrastructure. The Scotland Office invited evidence submissions from these local authorities, eligible MPs and constituency MSPs, the Scottish Government and wider community organisations as to which neighbourhoods should be chosen.
We have now worked at pace and on the basis of strong stakeholder evidence have selected the neighbourhoods to receive the funding (see list below).
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “The UK Government is backing 14 of Scotland’s most in need communities with £280 million investment – part of a £2 billion package to uphold pride in communities and create opportunities the length and breadth of the nation.
“Over decades of decline, people have watched as their neighbourhoods have lost services and support, so now we are putting the power into the hands of local people who can decide how the money is spent. We’re investing directly in Scottish communities to build stronger, thriving neighbourhoods.”
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed said: People across Scotland have been shut out from their own futures and felt powerless to make the changes they want to see in their communities. Pride in Place is fixing that and putting power back where it belongs – in the hands of the people who have the knowledge, ambition and vision to make a real difference.
“We’re backing 14 neighbourhoods across Scotland with up to £20 million each, to put local people back in the driving seat to revitalise their communities and shape their futures.”
Neighbourhood Boards, comprising representatives from the local community, will decide exactly what the investment will be spent on. These will now be established, with funding starting from April 2026.
Projects could include revitalising high streets and town centres, preserving local heritage, providing housing, creating jobs, boosting productivity and skills, improving health and well-being, creating new transport links, providing education and opportunity and improving safety and security.
Aberdeen City – North Locality Priority Neighbourhood / Cummings Park, Heathryfold and Middlefield, Northfield, Mastrick
City of Edinburgh – Bingham, Magdalene, The Christians and Niddrie
Falkirk – The Forgotten Villages, Braes Villages and Hallglen
Fife x2 – 1) West Fife Villages / Oakley Comrie and Blairhall, Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn, Kincardine, Saline and Gowkhall; and 2) Methil and Buckhaven
Glasgow x2 – 1) Springburn and Sighthill; and 2) Castlemilk
Highland – North, West and East Sutherland
North Ayrshire – Three Towns (Ardrossan, Saltcoats, and Stevenston)
North Lanarkshire – Forgewood, North Motherwell and town centre
South Ayrshire – Northern Ayr and Town Centre Regeneration Corridor
South Lanarkshire – Hamilton Town Centre
Na h-Eileanan Siar – Stornoway and Lewis
West Lothian – Fauldhouse, Whitburn and Blackburn
In total, the UK Government is investing more than £2 billion over 10 years in dozens of important local and regional projects the length and breadth of Scotland, bringing much-needed economic and community renewal.
These include:
£280m Pride in Place Programme (Phase 2)
£12m Pride in Place Impact Fund
£200m support for ten Scottish towns (Pride in Place Phase 1)
£320m for the Glasgow City Region and North East Scotland Investment Zones
£52m for the Inverness and Cromarty Firth, and Forth Green Freeports
£81m for Community Regeneration Partnerships in Dundee, Scottish Borders, Argyll & Bute, and Na h-Eileanan Siar
£188m to complete Levelling Up Fund projects
£76m in UK Shared Prosperity Fund transition funding for 2025/26
£60m innovation funding for Glasgow City Region (across the Innovation Accelerator 2025/26 and new Local Innovation Partnerships Fund)
£17.3m for Energy Transition Zone
£5m for Community Ownership Fund projects
£2.6m for the V&A in Dundee
£752m to deliver Scotland’s 12 City Region and Growth Deals over 2025/26 – 2034/35.
Council Leader Jane Meagher has welcomed up to £20m of UK Government funding for four communities in East Edinburgh.The Pride in Place Programme funding was announced yesterday.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said:“The government’s £20m investment over the next 10 years in Niddrie, Bingham, Magdalene and The Christians is wonderful news.
“The long-term certainty this brings is incredibly helpful for communities and partners alike. This is a vibrant and active community with a clear passion for shaping their own future, and this sustained funding will not only boost their hard work, it will directly give them a voice in deciding how the money is invested over the next decade. It’s an approach we are keen to learn from.
“The announcement strongly aligns with the council’s commitment to put support at the heart of our communities where people need it most. Our city-wide poverty prevention programme, including our neighbourhood prevention partnership, is focused on tackling inequalities and improving access to help.
“We look forward to working closely with the local community to establish a neighbourhood board, and to work with them over the coming years to ensure every pound is invested in line with the needs, priorities and ambitions of their community.”
New guidance outlines that Neighbourhood Boards will have to prove they have listened to and have the backing of residents and their local community to receive all their funding, ensuring that community voices sit at the heart of the decisions made about the future of their areas.
Any resident with big ideas and a desire to transform their community can get involved, with boards being chaired by an independent member of the community, chosen for their ambition and potential to lead their community.
Local authorities and MPs in Pride in Place neighbourhoods will now begin to work with their communities to pick the right chair to take the reins of their Neighbourhood Board, lead on engagement with the community, and drive forward the changes they want to see.
Alongside the long-term £280 million investment through Pride in Place Programme neighbourhood allocations, we have also made £12 million available through the Pride in Place Impact Fund (PIPIF).
This sees eight local authorities share £12 million to fund the types of changes people have said they want to see. These could include new green spaces, play areas and town centre revitalisation to sports and leisure facilities and the improvement and ownership of key community assets.
That money should be spent fast by local councils so that people see and feel tangible change in their communities at the start of 2026. The local authorities which have each been given £1.5 million allocations to spend over two years, starting 2025/26, are Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire, North Ayrshire, Dundee, North Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, East Ayrshire and Falkirk.
This is in addition to the £200 million that has been made available for ten Scottish towns (Arbroath, Elgin, Kirkwall, Peterhead, Dumfries, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Clydebank, Coatbridge and Greenock) as part of Pride in Place Phase One, which the UK Government announced earlier this year.
Local people in the existing 10 Scottish towns are already having their say over how to improve their community:
In Elgin more than 1,000 ideas have already been submitted, including tackling empty shops, revamping the town shopping centre.
In Peterhead people are ramping up CCTV in the town centre to tackle anti-social behaviour and investing in indoor sports and leisure facilities.
Independent Commissioner finds last government’s support schemes left the front door open to covid fraud with £10.9 billion lost to pandemic fraudsters
Government has already actioned recommendations in Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner’s report – including new fraud powers and voluntary repayment scheme
Further action planned to retrieve lost funds and prevent repeat of mistakes in future crises
Taxpayers lost £10.9 billion to fraud and error as the previous government’s pandemic response left the front door open to fraud, an independent report reveals today.
The Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner, Tom Hayhoe’s, final report to Parliament finds many schemes – including Bounce Back Loans and Eat Out to Help Out – were rolled out with huge fraud risks and no early safeguards – costing the taxpayer millions.
Weak accountability, bad quality data and poor contracting were identified as the primary causes of the £10.9 billion pound losses – which were enough to fund daily free school meals for the UK’s 2.7 eligible million children for eight years.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves appointed Tom Hayhoe in December 2024 to ensure mistakes of the past are never repeated, with this government already recouping almost £400 million of covid support cash.
Chancellor, Rachel Reeves said:“Leaving the front door wide open to fraud has cost the British taxpayer £10.9 billion — money that should have been funding our public services, supporting families, and strengthening our economy.
“We have started returning this money to the British people and we will leave no stone unturned in rooting out the fraudsters who profited from pandemic negligence.”
The government has already actioned many of the Commissioner’s early proposals. These include:
A voluntary repayment scheme, launched in September, giving claimants until 31 December to pay up.
Tougher sanctions powers through the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, which became law on 2 December.
Specialist fraud recovery teams to track down suspected fraudsters and recover taxpayer cash, from 2026.
Josh Simons, Cabinet Office Minister, said: “We’re taking more action to bring fraudsters to justice and make the state the hardest possible target: giving investigators new powers to take on cases, using artificial intelligence to speed-up counter-fraud work, and setting up a repayment scheme to claw back money into the public purse.”
The report highlights that counter fraud controls were ‘inadequate’ and only improved later in the pandemic. Hayhoe makes further recommendations to ensure the country is prepared for further crises that need an economic response from government – emphasising that future preparation and robust controls will provide the best value for money for taxpayers.
The government will consider the report in full and respond early in the new year.
The £725 million package of reforms to the apprenticeship system will help to tackle youth unemployment and drive economic growth, with thousands more young people expected to benefit over the next three years.
Major £725 million investment to deliver more apprenticeships for young people and help match skills training with local job opportunities.
Young people to benefit from increased access to training with full cost of apprenticeships at SME’s covered by Government.
New wave of foundation apprenticeships in sectors such as retail and hospitality sectors to get young people into work.
Backing thousands more apprenticeship starts for young people through a £140 million partnership with local leaders.
50,000 young people across the country will be better equipped for jobs of the future through a major investment to create more apprenticeships and training courses.
The £725 million package of reforms to the apprenticeship system will help to tackle youth unemployment and drive economic growth, with thousands more young people expected to benefit over the next three years.
The latest funding includes a £140 million for a pilot where Mayors will be able to connect young people – especially those not in education, employment or training (NEET) with thousands of apprenticeship opportunities at local employers.
By partnering with regional leaders who best understand their local economies, these pilots will ensure young people can access training that meets the needs of employers in their area.
As part of the package, the government will also cover the full cost of apprenticeships for eligible young people under 25 at small and medium-sized businesses.
Removing the 5% co-investment rate for SME’s means that the training costs for all eligible under 25 apprentices are fully funded opening up thousands of opportunities for young people. This will make it easier for young people to find opportunities and remove the burden from businesses, making it easier for them to take on young talent.
Businesses will also benefit from a major boost in flexibility as new short courses in cutting-edge areas including AI, engineering and digital skills will begin rolling out from April 2026.
This includes working closely with the defence sector to develop a new suite of flexible, work-based training options to help employers upskill their existing workforce in the critical skills needed for future success.
Today’s announcement comes alongside plans to open up new waves of foundation apprenticeships in sectors such as hospitality and retail.
The reforms will simplify and modernise the apprenticeship system, making it more efficient and responsive to the needs of employers and learners. From April 2026, short courses will be introduced to provide more flexible training options and a new Level 4 apprenticeship in AI will also be introduced, supporting employers to develop the skills of their workforce.
The reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy build on the Prime Minister’s ambition for two-thirds of young people to participate in higher level learners – academic, technical or apprenticeships – helping more young people gain the skills they need to start their careers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “For too long, success has been measured by how many young people go to university. That narrow view has held back opportunity and created barriers we need to break.
“If you choose an apprenticeship, you should have the same respect and opportunity as everyone else. That’s why the Government is investing £1.5 billion through the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy – creating 50,000 more apprenticeships and foundation apprenticeships for young people over the next three years.
“It’s time to change the way apprenticeships are viewed and to put them on an equal footing with university. This is a defining cause for this government and a key step towards our ambition to get two-thirds of young people in higher-level learning or apprenticeships.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “Every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed. When given the right support and opportunities, they will grasp them.
“That’s why we are introducing a range of reforms to help young people take that vital step into the workplace or training and to go on and make something of their lives.
“This funding is a downpayment on young people’s futures and the future of the country, creating real pathways into good jobs and providing work experience, skills training and guaranteed employment.”
The reforms are designed to tackle the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts among young people over the last decade – which have fallen by almost 40% since 2015/16 and shift the focus towards supporting young people into high-quality training and employment.
This latest intervention follows an £820 million investment guaranteeing every young person the chance to gain the skills they need for success and support to find a job. This package will create 300,000 more opportunities to earn and learn and provide guaranteed jobs to almost 55,000 young people.
Over the coming months, DWP and Skills England will work intensively with business on the right balance to further boost apprenticeship starts for young people while delivering the right flexibilities for business.
Skills England will drive forward, with the Office for Investment, the service to support major investors and help them navigate the skills system. It will also establish a new skills infrastructure development service to support businesses to get training for jobs off the ground as quickly as possible and support young people in their careers.
McLaren Automotive Chief Executive Officer Nick Collins said: “Apprenticeships are a critical pipeline for developing the next generation of talent. They provide an immersive pathway for young people to gain practical experience and learn in real world environments.
“At McLaren we recognise the importance of investing in people and skills to create the world’s most extraordinary supercars. We are proud to inspire and equip the next generation to continue this tradition of excellence.”
Craig Beaumont, Executive Director at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Small businesses are incredibly enthusiastic about apprenticeships, and we are pleased the Government is taking steps to make the system more small business friendly.
“It will help unlock more local roles, meaning small firms can do what they do best – taking people on and giving them a great chance in life.”
Rt Hon Robert Halfon, Executive Director, Make UK, said: “Manufacturers support the Government’s commitment to a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy to boost investment in high-quality training.
“The development of foundation apprenticeships has been a positive step in ensuring that effective entry level routes into employment are there for young people.
Industry is also keen to work with mayoral authorities to recruit more young people into engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships. Enabling more businesses to invest in work-based training is critical to supporting more young people into skilled work, and mayoral authorities bringing together employers and young people will help this to happen.
Chris Perriton, Head of Learning Pathways, Marston said: “At Marston’s, we believe apprenticeships are a vital pathway for young people to build confidence, gain practical skills and unlock long-term careers in hospitality.
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to expanding opportunities and driving skills development, and we’re proud to play our part by offering high-quality apprenticeships across our pubs and support teams.
“These programmes not only provide hands-on experience but also the structured training and mentoring needed to help the next generation thrive in our industry.”
Dan Clarkson, Chief Operating Officer, Lee Marley Group said: “Apprenticeships play a vital role in sustaining the strength and capability of the construction industry. They give young people the structured development and real-world experience they need to carry essential craft skills forward, while building the confidence to pursue long-term, rewarding careers.
“As construction continues to evolve, apprenticeships help address skills shortages and uphold the high standards our built environment depends on. Supporting future talent is a responsibility we take seriously, and it remains central to everything we do at Lee Marley Group.”
The funding will create 350,000 new workplace opportunities designed to support young people into employment.
Hundreds of thousands more young people on Universal Credit to benefit from dedicated support.
Guaranteed jobs scheme to roll out in areas with some of the highest need from Spring 2026.
Almost one million young people will benefit from learning or employment opportunities as a result of a major £820 million funding package.
Thanks to the funding, 350,000 new training or workplace opportunities in sectors including construction, health and social care and hospitality will be provided to young people on Universal Credit to help them develop on the job skills, employer networks, and CV and interview coaching – breaking down barriers to employment and ensuring every young person has the chance to reach their potential.
In total, 900,000 young people on Universal Credit and looking for work will also benefit from a dedicated work support session, followed by four additional weeks of intensive support.
They will be referred to one of up to six pathways by their work coach: work, work experience, apprenticeship, wider training, learning or a workplace training programme with a guaranteed interview, designed in partnership with employers.
The investment will provide a springboard to a better future for close to a million young people, giving them the chance to gain crucial skills and support to find a job with long term prospects.
As part of this training, young people will receive six weeks of training, work experience, and a guaranteed job interview, giving young people their first foot in the door towards meaningful employment, boosting their prospects and supporting a stronger economy as part of our Plan for Change.
55,000 young people also stand to gain from a government-backed guaranteed job, which will begin roll-out from Spring 2026 in areas with some of the highest need in Great Britain. These regions are:
Birmingham & Solihull
East Midlands
Greater Manchester
Hertfordshire & Essex
Central & East Scotland
Southwest & Southeast Wales
More than 1,000 young people are expected to start a job in the first six months alone, with local partners and employers to play a key role in supporting young people as they transition into meaningful employment with fully funded wages and wraparound support for young people.
Alongside this, Youth Hubs – centres where young people can receive vital help to get them back on track – will be expanded to every local area of Great Britain, bringing the total to over 360. This will ensure young people up and down the country can access the lifechanging support Youth Hubs offer, such as CV advice, skills training, mental health support, housing advice, and careers guidance.
There is an expectation that young people will take up the opportunities they are offered, and sanctions to benefits could be applied for those who don’t engage with the offered support without good reason.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, said: “Every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed. When given the right support and opportunities, they will grasp them.
“That’s why we are introducing a range of reforms to help young people take that vital step into the workplace or training and to go on and make something of their lives.
“This funding is a downpayment on young people’s futures and the future of the country, creating real pathways into good jobs and providing work experience, skills training and guaranteed employment.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Too many young people fall out of education unnoticed, crippling their life changes and denting the economy.
“Smarter data and early-warning tools will change that – helping us to spot risks sooner, step in faster, and keep learners on track through our Plan for Change.
“With these ambitious measures, we can break down barriers to opportunity to make sure every young person gets the support they deserve.”
Recent data shows that almost one million young people are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), a 26% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Today’s announcement represents a major intervention to reverse this trend and ensure no young person is left behind.
It builds on a wide range of measures the Government is bringing forward to support young people, including expanded funding for youth trailblazers, and a major investigation spearheaded by Alan Milburn into the barriers preventing the young from accessing work.
Earlier intervention is being prioritised, with a £34 million investment to make it easier to identify young people who need support before they drop out of the system. This includes a new Risk of NEET indicator tool, giving local areas more accurate insights to target support where it’s needed most.
The Government will also invest in further education attendance monitoring and provide targeted support for young people in state-funded alternative provision schools, helping them secure valuable work experience.
To ensure young people transition effectively from school into post-16 education or training, we are working with schools and piloting automatic enrolment with further education providers for young people without a place.
As announced by the Chancellor, the Government has committed to delivering a Jobs Guarantee for 18 to 21-year-olds who have been searching for work whilst in receipt of Universal Credit for 18 months.
The initiative will provide 25 hours/week of fully subsidised six-month paid work to every eligible 18- to 21-year-old who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months. The young people will be paid at the relevant minimum wage and also receive fully funded wrap around support.
The Government is finalising its National Youth Strategy, shaped by insights from over 14,000 young people, that will set out a long-term vision for youth policy across government.
Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE, CEO & Founder, Youth Employment UK: “The Youth Guarantee is a hugely important step forward and reflects many of the recommendations we have championed through our work.
“More than 8,000 young people took part in our 2025 Youth Voice Census, and the message was clear: they value work experience, skills development and local support, but too often cannot access it.
“This package – from the Youth Guarantee Gateway and expanded Youth Hubs to additional work experience, SWAPs and apprenticeships – represents the most focused investment in tackling youth unemployment we have seen in many years.
“We particularly welcome the commitment to early support, personalised pathways and strong local partnerships. We look forward to working closely with the government, Mayors, local areas and employers to ensure delivery reaches every young person, especially those facing the highest barriers. Together, we can make this Guarantee a meaningful reality for all.”
Barry Fletcher, CEO at Youth Futures Foundation said: “Youth Futures Foundation welcomes the Government’s focus and investment in tackling the growing, stubborn challenge of youth unemployment and inactivity.
“Today’s measures present an ambitious, comprehensive package to reform the system and support more young people into earning or learning.
“Crucially, reforms like the Jobs Guarantee are grounded in the evidence of what works, especially for marginalised young people. This will be vital to ensure a better future for young people and drive long-term economic prosperity.”
Naomi Clayton, CEO, Institute for Employment Studies, said: “With one in eight young people out of work and not in education and training, and the lasting scarring effects that can have, we’re pleased to see the government’s reforms to support more young people.
“We welcome the dedicated support being introduced through the Youth Guarantee Gateway to help prevent young people becoming long-term unemployed, alongside broader preventative measures to make it easier to identify young people who need support. We also welcome the wraparound support that will be provided to long-term unemployed young people as part of the Jobs Guarantee.
“Supporting young people to access meaningful work experience, training opportunities and good jobs will help secure a brighter future for a generation, their communities and the economy.”
Richard Rigby, Head of UK Government Affairs at The King’s Trust said: “At The King’s Trust, we know that when you match young people’s potential with opportunity, they can transform their own lives. This Youth Guarantee is a crucial step towards unlocking that potential.
“Increasing training and work experience opportunities, alongside a guaranteed job scheme for the long-term unemployed, will help the young people we support in our centres each day to start overcoming the barriers they face, and take their first steps into work.
“If we get this right, we can transform the futures of young people out of work across the UK, and build a healthier, wealthier society.”
Neil Morrison, HR Director at Severn Trent said: “Giving a young person that first opportunity can be game changing, so we’re fully supportive of government’s Youth Guarantee.
“At Severn Trent we’re tackling youth unemployment head on, and we’re giving young people real chances to grow and creating opportunities that unlock potential and true talent. We look forward to working together on this, and the role business can play in giving the next generation the very best start.”
Susannah Hardyman, CEO of Impetus, said: “We are delighted that the Government has chosen to invest in the futures of young people.
“With hundreds of thousands of young people neither earning nor learning, and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds twice as likely to be NEET as their better off peers, this Youth Guarantee is much-needed to ensure everyone aged 16-24 gets the support they need to succeed, whether that’s a work placement, work experience or training.
“Expanding Youth Hubs across the country is a particularly encouraging move, especially as they are a place where young people can access support even if they are not currently claiming Universal Credit.
“As our Blueprint for a Youth Hub research found, a culture of hospitality enables Youth Hubs to be an easy front door for young people to start accessing the opportunities they need for a fulfilling life.”
Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, said: “There is a moral and economic imperative for government and businesses to work together to support more young people into training and work.
“These announcements will allow more young people to gain the vital experience that only work can provide.”
Dr Emily Andrews, Director of Policy and Research at the Learning and Work Institute, said: “With nearly one million young people neither earning nor learning, we welcome today’s announcements to tackle the current waste of potential and boost our future workforce.
“Building on our long-standing call for a Youth Guarantee, we are pleased to see a more comprehensive offer developing, with a range of new opportunities for young people to access experience and training in the workplace.
“Crucially, the national system-level offer is being balanced by more place-based approaches, including Trailblazers and the continued expansion of youth hubs to reach young people outside the benefits system.
“We will continue to work with partners on the delivery and implementation of this package at a national, regional and local level, to make the most of these opportunities.”
Debbie Cook, EFL’s Director of Community said: “From employment, mentoring and education programmes to sport and wellbeing initiatives, EFL Football Clubs and their charities are deeply embedded in their communities, empowering young people to unlock their potential and thrive.
“Through the Youth Guarantee, we look forward to maximising opportunities for young people via new employment hubs in EFL communities, ensuring they can access guaranteed pathways into work, training, and skills development.”
Patrick Milnes, Head of People and Work Policy, at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The number of young people who are not in education, employment or training is at its highest level for a decade.
“BCC research also shows that 75% of businesses are struggling to recruit skilled workers, so it is good to see the government taking action with an ambitious plan to get young people into work.
“Expanding Youth Hubs and investing in the Jobs Guarantee will help young people gain the skills and experience needed to succeed in the workplace. Our network of 51 Chambers of Commerce across the UK stands ready to help government deliver the Youth Guarantee in full.
“Ensuing young people can access fulfilling careers and businesses can find the talent they need are vital to unlocking growth.”
Tracey Collins, Director of Emerging Talent and Social Impact at Kier, said: “At Kier, we are committed to providing opportunities for young people and bring emerging talent into construction through hundreds of work experience and apprenticeship positions every year.
“It’s important that these opportunities are open to everyone, regardless of background or history, as every young person deserves the chance to flourish.
“To support this, we are delivering a number of initiatives to make Kier accessible to underrepresented groups including a pilot project with the Youth Futures Foundation as well as through our Kierriculum schools’ engagement programme.
“We believe that the Youth Guarantee will further strengthen this activity and we are proud to support the government’s work to collectively reduce long-term youth unemployment and help them reach a better future.”
The targeted support for young people at particular risk of becoming NEET to secure work experience will focus on pupils in state-funded Alternative Provision settings.
Alternative Provision refers to education provided outside mainstream or special schools for children who cannot attend a regular school—often due to exclusion, health needs, or other circumstances
Government calls on the public to get out together and shop local on Small Business Saturday
National celebration of the UK’s entrepreneurs comes off the back of the flagship Small Business Plan to boost the nation’s 5.7m small businesses with the strongest reforms to tackle late payments in 25 years
New ‘Backing Your Business’ campaign launched to help businesses get what they need to thrive, from sole traders and start-ups to high street shops and family businesses
Help support your local small businesses this busy Christmas period – that’s the message from the government today as it calls on friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to come together and shop local on Small Business Saturday (6 December) – a national celebration of the UK’s entrepreneurs and the 5.7 million small businesses that power our economy.
Small businesses employ 60% of the UK workforce, generate £2.8 trillion in turnover, and are the backbone of communities across the country. New data shows that supporting them this festive season could deliver a £5 billion boost for SMEs, with spending expected to rise 19% on last year.
The launch of the new Backing Your Business campaign comes hot on the heels of the Government’s flagship Small Business Plan, which includes the strongest reforms to tackle late payments in 25 years – designed to help sole traders, start-ups, family firms and high street shops access the support they need to thrive.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “This country is home to some of the brightest entrepreneurs and innovative businesses in the world and our Small Business Plan is a key driver to accelerating that potential.
“This Small Business Saturday is a great chance to get out to your local high streets and support small businesses.
“Whether it’s your local shop, tradesperson, or high street retailer, these are the people who work day and night and power our communities and our economy.”
Ministers have been out and about vising a range of inspiring small businesses in the lead up to Saturday, including the innovative Stoke animation studio Carse and Waterman, award winning Glaswegian sweet shop Jeavons Toffee, and London’s boutique dog groomers Bow Wow.
Michelle Ovens CBE, Director, Small Business Saturday UK said: “Small businesses are the nation’s favourites businesses and they are essential to both their communities and the whole economy.
“Indeed our research with American Express found 95% of people feel small businesses add value to local areas and 84% believe the nation needs to support them.
“At this crucial time of year for many small firms it is vital that the nation remembers their favourite small businesses and goes out to support them this Small Business Saturday and beyond.”
If small business across the UK grow by just 1 percentage point annually this could add £320 billion to the economy by 2030. As well as the campaign, the government is focused on delivering for small business by:
Tackling late payments with the strongest reforms in 25 years, going further than any previous government.
Putting more money in customers’ pockets by taking £150 off energy bills, and freezing rail fares and prescription charges.
Raising the rate when small businesses start to pay national insurance.
Slashing electricity prices for thousands of manufacturing businesses.
Making training for under-25 apprenticeships free for small businesses.
Supporting working parents with 30 hours free childcare a week saving £7,500.
Capping the increase in business rates as pandemic support measures taper off, with a £4.3 billion package meaning most business property increases are capped at 15%.
Doubling eligibility for enterprise tax incentives to help fast-growing firms attract investment and talent.
Slashing red tape so that more bars and pubs can expand outdoor dining
Earlier this year, the flagship Small Business Plan was launched alongside the Business Growth Service, which included a series of measures aimed at boosting finance but also tackling the scourge of late payments with proposed laws that would be the most comprehensive reforms for 25 years.
The government has since worked closely with businesses and concluded its consultation on late payments, and it will deliver its response in the new year.
That finance package included a £4bn finance boost including £1bn for start-ups with 69,000 Start-Up Loans and mentoring support, and a further £3bn boost to the British Business Bank that will help lenders offer more accessible small business loans through the ENABLE programme.
New strategy to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030 – delivering the largest reduction in child poverty since records began
Support for working families to stop children growing up in B&Bs, expanding childcare for families on UC and helping parents save up to £500 on baby formula
Families struggling with the cost of living to benefit from wider support announced at budget including £150 off energy bills, increasing the living wage by £900 a year and removal of two-child limit
Part of the Government’s plan to deliver more security, opportunity, and respect for every family across the UK
Around 550,000 children will be lifted out of poverty by 2030 – the biggest reduction in a single parliament since records began – as the Government launches its Child Poverty Strategy today (Friday 5 December).
Following the reversal of the two-child limit, the strategy tackles the root causes of poverty by cutting the cost of essentials, boosting family incomes, and improving local services so every child has the best start in life.
The strategy found that children growing up in poverty do less well in school, are more likely to be unemployed when older and earn less throughout their lifetimes. Failure to tackle this problem has been holding back the economy, as well as stifling children’s potential.
New interventions in the strategy include more accessible childcare for working parents on Universal Credit. Childcare costs are one of the biggest barriers for parents who want to work and those starting or returning to jobs can particularly struggle to cover upfront childcare fees before they receive their first payslip.
From next year, the rules will change to make it easier for new parents who receive Universal Credit to get back to work by extending eligibility for upfront childcare costs to those returning from parental leave. This will prevent new parents from facing a debt trap meaning more parents can get back to work and get on in work faster.
To support more parents with more than two children into work, families who receive Universal Credit will also be able to get support with childcare costs for all their children.
Children living in temporary accommodation are living in one of the deepest forms of poverty, this has a devastating impact, particularly on children. A stay in temporary accommodation increases a child’s experience of family disruption, missed schooling and damage to physical and mental health.
The strategy will also end the unlawful placement of families in Bed and Breakfasts beyond the six-week limit. To support this, the Government is investing £8 million in Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots in 20 local authorities that have the highest use of Bed and Breakfasts for homeless families – continuing the programme for the next three years.
Alongside this, the government will provide £950 million through the fourth and largest round of the Local Authority Housing Fund from April 2026 to deliver up to 5,000 high-quality homes for better temporary accommodation by 2030. Further details will be set out in the upcoming Homelessness Strategy.
A new legal duty will also be introduced for councils to notify schools, health visitors, and GPs when a child is placed in temporary accommodation, so no child is left without support. This enables health and education providers to deliver a more joined up approach to support children experiencing homelessness.
The UK Government will also work with the NHS to end the practice of mothers with newborns being discharged to B&Bs or other forms of unsuitable housing.
The government will also support families with the cost of essentials by helping families to buy more affordable infant formula. The cost of some infant formula brands has risen by 25% in two years, putting pressure on families who cannot or choose not to breastfeed.
The government will set clear guidance for retailers that – together with allowing families to use loyalty points, vouchers, and gift cards to purchase formula – could save parents up to £540 in a baby’s first year and remove unnecessary barriers for low-income families.
Taken together, the measures in the strategy will lift 550,000 children out of relative low income at the end of this Parliament, with 7.1 million children seeing household incomes rise, including 1.4 million in deep material poverty – the largest reduction in child poverty by any Government in a single Parliament.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Every child deserves the best possible start in life, with their future no longer determined by the circumstances of their birth. Yet too many children are growing up in poverty, held back from getting on in life, and too many families are struggling without the basics: a secure home, warm meals, and the support they need to make ends meet.
“I will not stand by and watch that happen, because the cost of doing nothing is too high for children, for families, and for Britain.
“This is a moral mission for me. It’s about fairness, opportunity, and unlocking potential. Our strategy isn’t just about reversing the failures of the past, it sets a new course for national renewal, with children’s life chances at its heart.”
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden said: “Tackling child poverty is an investment in working families and our country’s future.
“There is a direct link between children in poverty growing up to be adults not in work, education or training – we cannot afford to waste a generation’s potential and talents.
“Our strategy will deliver support where families need it most, giving every child a good start in life and giving them the opportunity to succeed.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Child poverty is a stain on our country. I’ve seen the damage poverty does first hand, and bearing down on it sits at the very core of this government’s mission.
“This strategy, lifting over half a million children out of poverty, represents an historic moment for generations of families now and into the future.
“And whether it’s expanding free school meals, rolling out free breakfast clubs, or revitalising family services, we are determined to give every child the very best start in life.”
It comes as the Prime Minister visits a children centre in Wales today with the Welsh First Minister to meet families and children who are set to benefit from the interventions in the strategy.
It follows his visit to Glasgow yesterday where he spoke to Child Poverty Campaigners, MSPs, and other key partners to discuss the Government’s strategy to cut child poverty across the UK.
Stacey, from Changing Realities an organisation which has supported the development of the Child Poverty Strategy, discussed her experiences with the Prime Minister in Wales today. She said: “This strategy makes a good start to the essential work of addressing record levels of child poverty in this country.
“Lifting the two-child limit is a step on the road to investing in our children and our social security system, and can only be a good thing in lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.
“After championing the removal of the two-child limit over the last year, even though my own family won’t benefit it is great to finally feel listened to and knowing the difference this change will make.
“As a parent who knows first-hand the harm poverty causes, I stand ready and determined to continue the work required to ensure that no child in this country faces poverty. I call on all of us to do the same.”
Shortly after the election, the Prime Minister set up the Child Poverty Taskforce to bring together government and experts to explore how Government could use all its available levers to drive down child poverty.
This strategy is the first step on our road to ending child poverty and delivers on the commitment to reduce child poverty this parliament.
It comes as child poverty levels in the UK has reached a historic high. Today, 4.5 million children (around 31%) are living in relative poverty after housing costs, 900,000 more since 2010/11. Around 2.6 million children are growing up in households without enough food, and last year 1.1 million relied on food banks.
In England alone, more than 172,000 children are living in temporary accommodation and three quarters of children in poverty now come from working families.
Children growing up in poverty are more likely to not be in education, employment or training as an adult, earn less than their peers and less likely to achieve good GCSE results or do well at school.
Acting now will cost significantly less than the long-term consequences of poverty.
Tackling child poverty is not just a moral imperative – it is an investment in Britain’s future.
That’s why the Labour government is reversing the two-child limit in Universal Credit – a failed policy experiment that punished children and been one of the biggest drivers of hardship since its introduction in 2017.
The majority of families who will gain from the removal of the limit are in work. Around 300,000 children are in poverty directly because of this policy, equivalent to 100 children pushed into hardship every day. Without intervention, 150,000 more would have fallen into poverty by 2030.
Removing the two-child limit is the most cost-effective way to drive down child poverty rates – lifting 450,000 children out of poverty in the final year of this Parliament, rising to 550,000 alongside other measures such as the expansion of free school meals, help with energy bills and the government’s childcare offer.
Priya Edwards, senior research and policy manager at Save the Children UK, said: “Families will be better off under this plan with 7.1 million children seeing their household incomes boosted by the end of this Parliament.
“Scrapping the two-child limit to benefits, expanding free school meals, and increasing childcare support for families including for those returning to work after maternity leave are bold measures to improve childhoods’ – not the sticking plaster measures of the past.
“Ministers involved in creating the strategy listened extensively to children impacted by deep poverty over many months and we hope this way of working is used as a blueprint for creating policy in future that impacts young people.
“We welcome this expansive and historic plan, and we look forward to seeing the difference it can make to children’s lives in the years to come.”
Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: “here is no excuse for child poverty, which damages countless children’s lives every single day. This is the moment when we must draw a line in the sand – and as a country do everything in our power to turn the tide for children growing up in poverty and hardship.
“We applaud the publication of this Child Poverty Strategy. If fully delivered, the commitments made today have real potential to transform children’s lives. Our focus now is on ensuring these promises translate into action on the ground, helping to put food on tables, stability in households and hope back into children’s lives.
“We stand ready to work with government to help make that happen.”
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said: “This morning, the government published its full Child Poverty Strategy, setting out plans to reduce hardship for children growing up in the UK by the end of the parliament.
“It’s a crucial commitment to delivering on one of their central manifesto promises.”
For the first time, this government will also target reductions in deep material poverty as part of the strategy, which goes beyond a family’s income, to understand children’s experience of poverty and measures the number of children in the UK who are going without essentials such as three meals a day or growing up in a damp-free home.
Two million children (14%) are currently in deep material poverty, lacking at least 4 of 13 essential items.
This is a UK-wide strategy, with ministerial roundtables in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales which were attended by ministers of the respective nations, and ministers and officials having visited all the regions of England to meet with key child poverty representatives and visit frontline delivery projects.
Respecting devolution settlements and complementing work that is already underway in nations and regions is central to this strategy. Each nation has its own distinct devolution settlement which sets out powers to tackle child poverty.
These powers vary across nations, with some levers being devolved to the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while others remain reserved to the UK government.
Devolved governments also receive funding through the Barnett formula.
Local people are invited to join their neighbourhood boards to have a say in shaping their areas over the next decade as part of the Pride in Place programme
Communities to receive a jump start to the Pride in Place programme with an initial £150,000 to 169 communities to begin delivering the change they want to see.
Local people invited to join their new Neighbourhood Board and take control of up to £20m of funding and support to deliver a decade of change in their neighbourhoods.
This comes as Phase One areas get started on their ambitious regeneration plans to transform their neighbourhoods.
People across the country are being urged to sign up to new Neighbourhood Boards – set up as part of the Pride in Place programme – to decide how £20m of new funding is spent in their communities over the next decade.
Pride in Place will empower neighbourhoods to make the changes they need in their communities to restore local pride and reinvigorate their areas, based entirely on local voices and priorities.
From revitalising their high street to setting up a community sports league, or boosting healthy eating with community cooking classes, guidance published today sets out a range of potential project ideas and provides communities with the toolkit to choose the projects that are right for them and suit their local needs and ambitions.
Alongside this, each of the 169 areas in receipt of Phase Two Pride in Place funding will now receive £150,000 of their funding early in the new year to enable them to get the ball rolling sooner on rebuilding their local communities, setting up their Boards and engaging the community on plans for the next decade.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Whether it’s breathing new life into a high street, setting up a local sports league, or saving the pub at the heart of your community – Pride in Place is about putting power back where it belongs: in the hands of local people.
“We’re backing the local residents who step forward, join their Neighbourhood Boards, and help shape a decade of transformation.
“This isn’t about short-term fixes – it’s about lasting change that restores pride, strengthens communities and creates opportunities for everyone.”
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, said: This is about bringing lasting change to people’s communities after years of decline.
“So today we’re calling on people up and down the country to get involved in bringing back pride to their community and country.”
Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said: “Putting local people at the centre of the Pride in Place Programme is what really puts the value behind this money.
“Change and investment means nothing unless local people have their voices heard and their priorities met, so we are putting the residents that know there area best in the driving seat.”
Crucially, the new guidance also outlines that Neighbourhood Boards will have to prove they have listened to and have the backing of residents and their local community to receive all their funding, ensuring that community voices sit at the heart of the decisions made about the future of their areas.
Any resident with big ideas and a desire to transform their community can get involved, with boards being chaired by an independent member of the community, chosen for their ambition and potential to lead their community.
Local authorities and MPs in Pride in Place neighbourhoods will now begin to work with their communities to pick the right chair to take the reins of their Neighbourhood Board, lead on engagement with the community, and drive forward the changes they want to see.
Those interested in getting involved should contact their local MP or Local Authority.
