It’s a difficult truth that our future workforce is experiencing greater challenges, with rates of childhood poverty increasing over the past decade and families with young children most at risk. ​ ​

Living in poverty can affect the development of a young child, leading to early disadvantages that impact throughout their lives. Families experiencing poverty find it more difficult to meet their children’s material and social needs. Poverty can also cause wide-ranging psychological distress and is time-consuming to manage, meaning parents and carers often do not have the time or mental space to provide the nurturing care that children need to thrive.

Addressing childhood poverty is a vital part of the jigsaw of support needed and the research has identified protective factors that help to reduce the detrimental effects of poverty.

Investing in early childhood for children facing barriers to early development is particularly effective in reducing public spend on education, health and justice system.​