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Several initiatives in the UK aim to help children at risk of relative poverty, including Child Benefit, Universal Credit, and various educational programmes.
Child Benefit is a government initiative that provides financial assistance to parents or guardians of children under 16, or under 20 if they are in approved education or training. It is designed to help families manage the costs of raising children, thereby reducing the risk of child poverty. The amount received depends on the number of children in the family, with a higher amount for the first child.
Universal Credit is another key initiative. It is a payment to help with living costs for those on a low income or out of work. It has replaced six other benefits, including Income Support and Housing Benefit, and is intended to simplify the benefits system and incentivise work. However, it has been criticised for its five-week wait for the first payment, which can push families into debt.
The UK government also runs various educational programmes aimed at reducing child poverty. For example, the Pupil Premium provides additional funding to schools to help disadvantaged pupils. Schools receive additional funding for each pupil registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years. The aim is to close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.
Another initiative is the provision of free school meals for all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in state-funded schools in England. This ensures that children from low-income families have at least one nutritious meal a day, reducing the risk of food poverty.
The Sure Start programme, although scaled back in recent years, also plays a role in tackling child poverty. It provides a range of services, including early education and childcare, health services, and employment advice, to families with children under five. The aim is to give children the best possible start in life, regardless of their background.
In addition to these government initiatives, numerous charities and non-profit organisations work to support children at risk of poverty. These include the Child Poverty Action Group, which campaigns for policies to prevent and end child poverty, and The Trussell Trust, which runs a network of foodbanks across the UK.
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