Child Poverty Action Group

Book your place at our next webinar - "For what it's worth: Capital in UC"

🗓️ 10th December
⏰ 1:30 pm to 4 pm
💻Online, via Zoom

Secure your spot: bit.ly/43JNHhX

All kids deserve the best start in life. No matter how many brothers and sisters they have, or what jobs their parents have, or if someone in their household has a disability. They all deserve a good childhood – not just because it will set them up for a stronger future, but because they’re kids.

A year ago today I joined some of the incredible @changingrealities.bsky.social parents at Downing Street who shared what changes are needed to end child poverty - incl why the two-child limit must be scrapped. It’s brilliant to see yesterday’s announcement after so much hard work from so many.

One parent affected by the two-child limit told us:

'My children will no longer be the children having to go without amongst their friends who come from smaller families. To make children suffer is morally wrong and should never have happened.'

Quote from Shauna, who is married with three children: '[Scrapping the two-child limit] will make a big difference because we’ve had to incur debts. Hopefully it will mean I can cover the last bills that come in each month instead of being in the red. I could buy a new mattress for two of my children. They can feel the springs on the mattresses they’ve got that they’ve had for many years.'

What difference will scrapping the two-child limit make to children's lives?

Shauna says she'll be able to buy her children a new mattress.

Two-child benefit cap to be scrapped from next year The policy, introduced under the Tories, means parents can only claim universal credit for their first two children.

'This is a much-needed fresh start in our country's efforts to eradicate child poverty and while there is more to do it gives us strong foundations to build on' - our comment to the BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'This is a transformative victory for children' - LabourList Abolishing the two-child limit brings hope to 1.7 million children and a fresh approach to tackling poverty says Alison Garnham of CPAG.

‘This is a transformative victory for children’

labourlist.org/2025/11/scra...

Scrapping the two-child limit will be transformational for children.

Every child deserves the best start in life and with today’s decision government has done the right thing.

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Scrapping the two-child limit will be transformational for children.

This is a much-needed fresh start in our country’s efforts to eradicate child poverty and while there is more to do it gives us strong foundations to build on.

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Dear Prime Minister, I’m writing to you since some families are going through something called poverty, which is not okay! 1 out of 3 children in the UK live in poverty! If you make this change, then everyone can live happily, and for everyone to live happily then they must have drinkable liquids and healthy foods. Please please make this change for the country and for the people in poverty. For people to feel save should be treated equally and have a place to relax and sleep. Please ask the Government if this is possible. From Robyn in Year 3!

We’re expecting the Child Poverty Strategy any day.

We asked children what they’d like to say to the PM about their hopes and concerns.

Robyn said: 'I’m writing to you since some families are going through something called poverty, which is not okay!'

Unions urge Reeves to prioritise living standards as CBI presses for shift on employment rights TUC calls on chancellor to focus on child poverty and upping minimum wage

83% of the public agree that no child should be living in poverty in the UK
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

We asked kids what they’d say to the PM about their hopes & concerns.

Ezzah, Year 7, said:

‘Children are the future & they deserve the chance to live a happy & healthy life, go to school & reach their full potential. I believe the government can do more to support families who are struggling.’

Handwritten letter that reads: Dear Sir Keir Starmer, My name is Iris. I am a primary school child. I am writing this letter to inform of my concern for my fellow children. I have heard that one in every three children live in poverty. I do not think this is right or fair. We are the next generation and one day we will be dealing with the problems and situations of the world. Yet that day is not today. It is wrong that a weight like poverty should be placed upon the shoulders of young children, some under five. Children need so much – love, care, maybe games to play, food and education to prepare them for adulthood. Please, Prime Minister Starmer, you have the ability to change this. So many lives will be different, better. I am no politician – I don’t make the decisions. All I ask you to do is pay a little more attention to the situation. Yours sincerely, Iris

We’re expecting the Child Poverty Strategy any day.

We asked children what they’d like to say to the PM about their hopes and concerns.

Iris said: 'It is wrong that a weight like poverty should be placed upon the shoulders of young children, some under five.'

Handwritten letter that reads: Dear Prime Minister I am writing to you because I think it’s important that all children in the UK have what they need to be happy and healthy. I believe all children need to be happy and safe. Thank you for reading my letter. Yours sincerely Maryam

We’re expecting the Child Poverty Strategy any day.

We asked children what they’d like to say to the PM about their hopes and concerns.

Maryam said: 'I think it’s important that all children in the UK have what they need to be happy and healthy.'

‘If families don’t have enough money, it can make learning & joining in with activities difficult. Some children miss out on things like school trips or new clothes, & that isn’t fair.’

‘Please make sure no child goes to bed hungry or feels left out because their family doesn’t have enough money.’

We’re expecting the Child Poverty Strategy any day.

We asked children what they’d like to say to the PM about their hopes and concerns.

Banujan, Year 7, said:

‘It’s hard to feel happy if you don’t have enough food, warm clothes, or a safe place to live...

In the run-up to publication of the child poverty strategy, the vast majority of teachers (86%) say this government could be doing more to help lower-income families and children. Just one in seventeen teachers (6%) say the government is currently doing enough.

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In the most deprived areas, a majority of teachers (57%) step in to support pupils in poverty at least weekly. This includes a quarter (25%) who do so every day, compared to just one in twenty (5%) in schools with the least deprivation.

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Almost 2 in 3 teachers say they take steps beyond their educating role to support pupils in poverty on at least a monthly basis (such as seeking food, clothes & learning resources). Three in seven (43%) do so on at least a weekly basis.

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Teachers report signs of poverty in their classes including hunger and malnourishment; lack of equipment or clean uniform; pupils feeling shame in front of peers; unable to afford trips and lacking access to outdoor spaces, books, space and technology for homework, and even beds.

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With govt’s child poverty strategy expected soon, new evidence shows most teachers want more action on child poverty.

86% of teachers polled by @NEUnion say child poverty is limiting opportunity for their pupils to some extent. Two in five say it's limiting it greatly.

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Join us on 10 December for our next webinar.

Our expert speakers will focus on some of the questions that come up repeatedly in advice work when it comes to capital and UC.

Book your place: bit.ly/43JNHhX

Over 100 groups call for Labour to fully scrap two child benefit cap ‘Abolishing the two-child limit in full will set millions of children’s lives on a path to a brighter future’, major organisations say

We are proud to be among the 100 groups who co-signed this letter on fully scrapping the two-child limit. Via @cpaguk.bsky.social www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

We've joined @cpaguk.bsky.social and over 100 others in calling for the government to fully scrap the two-child limit. Every child deserves the best start in life but a record 4.5 million children live in poverty.

They deserve better.

See the full letter below:

We’ve joined 100+ others in calling for the government to fully scrap the two-child limit. Every child deserves the best start in life. By fully scrapping the two-child limit the UK government can deliver a decisive shift in children’s opportunities, and in the UK's potential. 🧵(1/2)

Faded collage of recent news coverage of the negative impact of the two-child limit overlaid with text that reads The two child limit systematically discriminates against women

[Faded collage of recent news coverage of the negative impact of the two-child limit overlaid with text that reads The time is now - the UK government must finally scrap the two-child limit

Today we've joined over 100 organisations in calling for the UK government to fully scrap the cruel two-child limit.

We've waited long enough. Acting swiftly to support women & their families impacted by the limit is crucial.

Find out more & read the letter here: cpag.org.uk/news/107-org...

More than 100 organisations warn the government against ‘half-measures’ on the two-child limit

www.rightsnet.org.uk/now/post/68876

No child should have to experience poverty. Yet, it's the reality for 4.5 million children in the UK.

That's why we’ve joined over 100 others in calling on the government to scrap the two-child limit. Every child deserves the best start in life. Read more below.

More than 100 organisations join together to urge the Government to scrap the two-child limit in full, rather than amend it - Nursery World More than 100 organisations representing anti-poverty charities, teachers, doctors, social workers and health visitors have signed a letter urging the Government to scrap the two-child limit in full rather than introduce ‘half measures’.

More than 100 organisations join together to urge the Government to scrap the two-child limit in full, rather than amend it | Nursery World