Child poverty in the North East not inevitable

Our joint vision is for all children across the region to be able to grow up not just healthy and secure, but to have the best start in life: to be able to fully participate and thrive in education, as well as outside school or college; pursuing the things they love, with exciting futures ahead of them; and able to benefit from everything our beautiful region has to offer.

But we know – including through our work with organisations like Point North and the vital voluntary and community groups they fund – that growing up in financial hardship makes it much more difficult to enjoy that inclusive childhood. Because poverty restricts choices. It limits opportunities and outcomes. And it prevents children, young people and their families from being able to participate fully in society.

Currently, around 80,000 babies, children and young people across County Durham and Tees Valley are being held back from fulfilling their potential by all the barriers that poverty can bring; a number so large it would fill Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium almost two and a half times over.

Yet – whilst child poverty can often feel like an insurmountable challenge, particularly for those experiencing it directly, and for the growing number of community groups and public services supporting families in hardship across our region every single day – we know it doesn’t have to be like this.

Relatively recent history tells us that child poverty is a highly policy-responsive issue, which – with political will and the right interventions and investment in place – can be meaningfully tackled. Indeed, the North East saw the largest fall in child poverty of any UK nation or region between 1999 and 2013. And that’s exactly what we will keep pushing for again, from all levels of government, alongside our partners and allies across the region.

In the meantime, we know that nobody gets a second chance at childhood. We must therefore do what we can, together, to prevent and mitigate the impacts of poverty on children growing up right now throughout the North East. We also know there’s an entire army of people and organisations across our region dedicated to making a difference to the lives and life chances of young people today, with many of these groups in County Durham and Tees Valley receiving essential support through Point North.

So, as we head rapidly towards the summer holidays, we wish everyone taking part in this month’s fundraising challenge for Point North every success. You are raising funds that will help to ensure more children and young people will be able return to school or college after the summer having been able to make special memories, and with experiences to share with their friends. Your fundraising efforts will help to ensure more children and young people are fed, have safe spaces to go and opportunities to grow, learn and enjoy their childhoods – as every single baby, child and young person across our region should.