The Committee’s report, Calling Time on child poverty: how Wales can do better outlines a number of recommendations to the Welsh Government as it finalises its new child poverty strategy. Specific recommendations in the report include:
- Setting interim and longer-term targets for reducing child poverty
- Ensuring the Welsh Government focuses its final Strategy much more clearly on children’s rights
- Appointing a dedicated Minister for Babies, Children and Young People with responsibility for tackling child poverty
RCPCH Officer for Wales, Dr Nick Wilkinson, said:
RCPCH Wales wholeheartedly agrees with the ESJ Committee’s recommendations for a strategy to tackle child poverty within the nation, backed up by data and targets and the key recommendation to establish a Minister for babies, children and young people - which could provide great leadership for a population often forgotten in policy. We were particularly pleased to see such a strong emphasis on childcare and in the first 1000 days of life. After all, the impacts of poverty often start before a child is born and early years is an absolutely crucial period for intervention.
Child poverty has been plaguing our nation for some time. It is shocking to find that Wales now has some of the highest child poverty rates in the UK at a staggering 28%. As paediatricians, we see the negative health outcomes and child health inequalities associated with poverty first hand, such as poor nutrition, respiratory issues and even higher rates of mortality. These can have lifelong - individual and societal - impacts.
As such, it was both disappointing and surprising that the clear link between health inequalities and poverty is not directly explored within the report. The influence of poverty on children’s health and wellbeing is undeniable and health impacts of growing up in poverty are significant and follow children across their life – further embedding the cyclical nature of deprivation. Any and all strategies to tackle child poverty must take into consideration how best to reduce health inequalities in Wales.