Ministers visit Brent to launch plan to tackle child poverty

Two senior government ministers visited a Family Wellbeing Centre in Brent today (23 Oct) to launch a 10 year plan to tackle child poverty.

The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, met with children and families at Preston Park Family Wellbeing Centre in Wembley this morning.

Brent’s Family Wellbeing Centres support families with the cost-of-living crisis and provide a wide range of support including, for example, access to Citizens Advice Brent, food parcels and vouchers, information on feeding your family on a budget and healthy lifestyles.

The Ministers spoke to staff and representatives from the charity Barnardo's, who partner with Family Wellbeing Centres, about the support available for families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

Councillor Gwen Grahl, Brent Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Reducing child poverty in Brent is an upmost priority within our Borough Plan. Our Family Wellbeing Centres are free to use for families living in the borough, and they showcase how investing in our residents can also reverse the inequalities that sadly exist in Brent. Our Centres bring together a range of services and we encourage parents with children of all ages to visit, and see what support we can offer.”

As part of Brent's ‘Start for Life’ programme, the borough’s Family Wellbeing Centres will be expanding their opening hours from 2 November. The extended hours aim to increase accessibility to the support services offered to working families at the centres, which will be open on Saturday mornings from 9am to 1pm during term-time.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson MP, said: “The stain of poverty of child poverty in this country has jeopardised the life chances of too many children for too long.

“Ending child poverty is a complex and difficult task, but our defining mission is to break down the unfair link between background and success - so every child believes that opportunity can belong to them.”

To find out more about your local Family Wellbeing Centre visit brent.gov.uk/fwc.