Resolve Poverty have launched new research on the prevalence of local authority anti-poverty strategies across England. It finds that councils in the north of England and in areas with high levels of poverty are more like to have an anti-poverty strategy in place.
While many councils do have anti-poverty strategies, the majority don’t. Given this, and in light of the Government’s intention to launch a national child poverty strategy in the spring, there is an opportunity for more councils to develop plans to drive down poverty in their area, creating the conditions for the national child poverty strategy to complement and reinforce anti-poverty plans in localities.
The key findings include:
- Almost 13% of councils across England have a current anti-poverty strategy
- Greater Manchester is leading the way with regional spread of anti-poverty strategies, with 80% of councils in Greater Manchester having one
- There is a clear north-south divide, with the majority of anti-poverty strategies being in the North West and North East of England
- Councils where the Labour Party is the largest party are more likely to have a current anti-poverty strategy
- Councils in areas with more concentrated levels of child poverty are more likely to currently have, or to have plans to introduce, an anti-poverty strategy.
You can read the full report and explore interactive maps at: Anti-poverty strategies in England - Resolve Poverty
Building on the 2023 report, Local anti-poverty strategies: Good practice and effective approaches and work Resolve Poverty have delivered to support Bolton Council with the development of a local anti-poverty strategy, they are looking to work with more areas on this important agenda. For more on their work on anti-poverty strategies, including how they can work with you, visit: Local anti-poverty strategies - Resolve Poverty