Child poverty strategy “a welcome step in the right direction”, say faith leaders
December 10, 2025 12:23 pm
Senior faith leaders have issued a joint response to the government’s recently published Child Poverty Strategy. In it, they “celebrate” the most significant policy change in the strategy, the removal of the two-child limit on benefits, which is set to directly lift 450,000 children out of poverty by the end of the decade. Faith groups had campaigned against the limit since its inception. Signatories to the statement include Bishops representing the Church of England and Roman Catholic Church, Senior Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, leaders from the Church of Scotland, Baptist Union, Methodist Church and United Reformed Church, a representative of Sikhs in Scotland, and the Territorial Leaders of the Salvation Army. The faith leaders have written jointly to the government on two occasions over the last year, encouraging an ambitious and decisive strategy to tackle rising levels of child poverty. Explaining their concern, they say “as faith leaders we are deeply aware of the effects of poverty on our communities, many of which increasingly feel forgotten and overlooked. It is simply wrong that millions of children across the UK have their health, wellbeing and opportunities blighted by poverty.” The strategy is commended as revealing “with depth and clarity the issues that need to be addressed to turn the tide on child poverty,” but the leaders go on to observe that “it is clear that this strategy alone will not deliver the lasting change we hope to see.” Beyond the scrapping of the two-child limit, the government’s figures show that the other measures committed to within the strategy, many of which are welcome changes, will nonetheless have limited impact. Calling for “sustained political focus, sufficient resources, and the ongoing involvement of those who bring direct lived experience of poverty” – building on the partnership approach taken to developing the strategy – the leaders commit to continuing to play their part “in pursuit of a better future for all our children”. Full statement: The Government’s Child Poverty Strategy is a welcome step in the right direction. As faith leaders we are deeply aware of the effects of poverty on our communities, many of which increasingly feel forgotten and overlooked. We wrote to the Prime Minister and Chancellor earlier this year calling for ambitious and decisive action to drive down child poverty. It is simply wrong that millions of children across the UK have their health, wellbeing and opportunities blighted by poverty. The strategy reveals with depth and clarity the issues that need to be addressed to turn the tide on child poverty. We celebrate the removal of the two-child limit, and commend the government for taking this bold action. People of faith have long opposed the limit because of our enduring commitment to the equal and immeasurable value of every child. Support through the social security system should be determined on the basis of need, not family size. It is regrettable, therefore, that the household benefit cap will continue to trap many families and households in poverty. It is clear that this strategy alone will not deliver the lasting change we hope to see. That will require sustained political focus, sufficient resources, and the ongoing involvement of those who bring direct lived experience of poverty. In our communities and places of worship we will continue to play our part, alongside national and local government, businesses, charities and people of goodwill, in pursuit of a better future for all our children. Revd Richard Andrew, President of the Methodist Conference, The Methodist ChurchRt Revd John Arnold, Bishop of Salford, Roman Catholic Diocese of SalfordRabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen, former Co-Chair, Assembly of Reform Rabbis and CantorsDr Nicola Brady, General Secretary, Churches Together in Britain and IrelandMatthew Forsyth, Vice President of the Methodist Conference, The Methodist ChurchRt Revd Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of ScotlandRevd Lynn Green, General Secretary, Baptist Union of Great BritainMia Hasenson-Gross, Executive Director, René Cassin – the Jewish voice for human rightsCommissioners Jenine and Paul Main, Territorial Leaders, The Salvation Army UK and IrelandRavinder Kaur Nijjar, Advisor, Sikhs in ScotlandGenesis Padgett, Youth President, The Methodist ChurchPaul Parker, Recording Clerk, Quakers in BritainPaul Rochester, General Secretary, Free Churches GroupRt Revd Martyn Snow, Lord Bishop of Leicester, Church of EnglandCatriona Wheeler, General Assembly Moderator, United Reformed ChurchRt Revd Robert Wickham, Chief Executive, Church Urban FundRt Revd and Rt Hon The Lord Williams of Oystermouth (Dr Rowan Williams), former Archbishop of CanterburyRabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi, Masorti Judaism Source
