The Child Poverty Act (2010)

The requirement for Local Authorities to produce a child poverty needs assessment and strategy was introduced by the Child Poverty Act (2010).  The Child Poverty Act received Royal Assent on the 25^th March 2010. This was a landmark occasion for the child poverty agenda as it enshrined in law the Government’s commitment to eradicating child poverty by 2020. 

The Act also has important implications for the way in which Local Authorities are required to address child poverty, including: 

• Preparing, publishing and keeping under review a Local Child Poverty Needs Assessment
• Developing and publishing a Joint Child Poverty Strategy that sets out the measures partners propose to take for the purpose of reducing and mitigating the effects of child poverty.
• Cooperation between local partners to reduce Child Poverty
• Requiring local authorities to take their responsibilities to tackle Child Poverty into account when preparing or revising their Sustainable Community Strategy.