Labour has set itself an historic mission for the 21st century – to eradicate child poverty within a generation. Child poverty trebled between 1979 and 1997. Already since the General Election, through measures such as raising child benefit and the introduction of the minimum wage, Labour has lifted over a million children out of poverty. But eradicating child poverty is not just about income. It’s about opportunities, too, and that’s where Sure Start comes in.
Poverty is passed from one generation to another. Breaking this cycle of disadvantage is a huge challenge and one which has eluded previous governments. So a Labour Government must not only raise family income, but must also make sure that every child from a low income family gets the best opportunities to keep them and their children from slipping back into poverty twenty years down the line.
Because poverty doesn’t wait until a child starts school, we must also start right at the beginning of a child’s life. For far too long children have been starting school with inequalities already affecting their future life chances. Sure Start is about giving young children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, a better start in life. Through Sure Start there is an opportunity to develop children’s physical, intellectual, social and emotional wellbeing early in their lives, so that they have a better chance of success when they do start school.
Thanks to Sure Start projects nearly 50,000 children under four, currently living in disadvantaged areas, have a route out of poverty. The Government has invested £452 million over three years to set up 250 local Sure Start programmes across England. All offer core services which aim to reduce children’s disadvantage and give them a decent start in life.
In Barrow, there is a freephone telephone helpline to provide health and childcare advice to local parents until 11pm every evening. And in Birmingham, young homeless mothers are being offered ‘play and stay’ sessions for their children whilst they receive health advice.
All of these projects are working in partnership with existing structures, such as community groups and health and social service professionals. Sure Start accepts that all of these groups of people, as well as parents and children themselves, have a role to play in achieving success. Participation in Sure Start is voluntary and, as a result, most projects are very popular with parents and professionals alike.
Following the success of the first Sure Start programmes, an extra £580 million for further expansion was announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review earlier this year. That means Sure Start will reach a third of all children who are living in poverty. This is more evidence that Labour is serious about getting it right for pre-school children, to ensure that they have the best possible start in life.
Sure Start is building a real future for children and their families. We are laying the foundations today for the health and educational prosperity of the whole country tomorrow. The cycle of deprivation that has prevailed for so many people in recent decades is finally being broken.