Responding to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s annual report, which focuses on child poverty, Andy Smith, President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said:

“Directors of children’s services want to work with government to see the eradication of child poverty via a comprehensive national strategy that gets to the root causes of deprivation, including high housing costs and benefits that have not kept pace with the actual cost of living, rather than offering short term sticking plasters.

“This report echoes our own recent research on the pressures facing children’s services across England, including the growing role of poor housing and poor parental mental health in contributing to family stress, exacerbated by the current cost-of-living crisis.

“The foundations necessary for children to thrive - safe housing, access to health care, and strong public services – are sadly missing for too many children and families, leaving them vulnerable to crisis. Early intervention and family support are key to preventing long-term harm and reducing future costs, which must be at the heart of the new child poverty strategy for England.”

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