There is clear evidence that where people are born into or experience poverty, it significantly impacts on their life chances, depriving them of the chance to play a full part in society.
Key messages
We want every resident to have a good quality of life and to aspire to improve their circumstances regardless of their background or where they live. It can be far harder for people to take advantage of opportunities if they are in poverty, where energy is spent trying to make ends meet rather than looking out for the next step up. Those in poverty are also more likely to experience poor health and wellbeing.
To tackle poverty and promote social mobility, policies cutting across a wide range of areas need to be considered together, including employment support, welfare, housing, early years provision and education, public health and family support.
The current funding system often discourages joined up working as the financial benefits of intervention do not necessarily benefit the service delivering them.
The right balance between services targeted on those who need it most and universal provision needs to be found, making the most effective use of limited financial resources. This balance may need to vary from place to place, and give local partners the freedom and flexibility to prioritise funding and commissioning in a way that best meets their local circumstances.
