Action for Children responds to the Chancellor’s Spring Budget
Director of Policy & Campaigns, Joe Lane, highlights the impact of the Spring Budget on vulnerable families across the UK.
‘Swept up in pre-election fever, the government has largely ignored children and families struggling in poverty in today's Budget.
"Families with children are the group most likely to be in financial hardship and with no targeted package of support it was a wasted opportunity to provide help to the people who need it most. The National Insurance cut along with the changes to Child Benefit mostly affects higher earners and whilst welcome, the short extension of the Household Support Fund is a temporary fix.
"Everyday our frontline services are seeing growing number of families trapped in poverty despite working as much as they can[1] and making every sacrifice. This means too many children are going without the basics and living with the consequences.
"Further government action is needed to help break down the barriers faced by parents unable to work or already working full-time. Doing so would help lift 2.7m children in work constrained households out of poverty.’[2]
- Joe Lane, Director of Policy and Campaigns at Action for Children
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Notes to Editors
[1] Action for Children research shows an average low-income family where every parent was already working full time would need to squeeze in an extra 19 hours a week to escape the breadline - equivalent to working an eight-day week. (Why are 300,000 families in full-time work still in poverty?, February 2024).
[2] Action for Children, Child poverty and barriers to work (February 2024)
About Action for Children
Action for Children protects and supports vulnerable children and young people by providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives. With 447 services across the UK, in schools and online, in 2021/22 we helped 671,275 children, young people and families.
