North Ayrshire Council’s leader has revealed more about the council’s plan to tackle child poverty.

The recently announced Child Poverty Action Plan will see

public agencies working with communities to help improve the lives of children and young people facing poverty.

Additionally, a Tackling Child Poverty Board chaired by Council Leader Marie Burns has been set up with the aim of finding and delivering a strategy to tackle the root causes of child poverty.

Councillor Burns said: “Tackling deeply ingrained poverty, made worse by the current cost of living crisis, must be a priority for the council.

“We already have a range of measures to support struggling families including, for example, food provision, financial advice and an ongoing £500,000 investment to support families with reducing the Cost of the School Day.

“We intend to work closely with our communities to drive

immediate and positive change

and to challenge poverty across our six localities to help struggling families and to give our children and young people the best possible start in life.”

So far, the board have put forward North Ayrshire Council as a potential Pathfinder local authority which will see the council work with community partners to provide person-centred solutions to poverty.

If the application is successful the council will receive part of the government’s £5 million Tackling Child Poverty Fund and help inform the Scottish Government’s Best Start, Bright Futures plan that aims to deliver a strategy to help those struggling with youth

poverty.

The board’s work will be influenced by the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.

Members of the public who are experiencing poverty or are worried about someone who is experiencing poverty can contact the Money Matters Team by emailing

moneymatters@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or calling 01294 310456

between Monday – Friday, 9.30am – 4.30pm.