Research: Child Poverty Strategy: parents and carers research

This research aimed to understand how families living in poverty manage essential costs (including utilities, housing, food, health and school related costs), and the support available to help them with financial challenges. It also looked at their financial resilience, and experiences of managing debt and savings.

In July 2024, the Prime Minister announced the creation of a new Ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce to develop a Child Poverty Strategy aimed at addressing systemic drivers of poverty. The Taskforce publicly committed to putting the direct testimonies of families at the heart of their work. As part of  this public commitment, DWP commissioned this research with parents and carers to produce current insights from families living in poverty to help the Taskforce understand not only the impacts of poverty, but also wider support needs and considerations for this group when developing the Strategy.   

This research is part of a suite of supporting analytical products that have been used to inform the development of the UK Government’s Child Poverty Strategy.  

The research has ensured that the voices of current parents and carers are heard and used in the development of the Child Poverty Strategy.