News from CPAG

The Cost of the School Day expands

At the end of January, we announced the UK-wide expansion of our project to tackle poverty-related barriers and stigma in schools. The UK Cost of the School Day will support pupils and school communities to reduce cost barriers around school trips, uniform, fun events, attitudes and more, so all children can make the most of school. This new UK-wide expansion builds on the success of the project in Scotland, and we will deliver it in partnership with Children North East, building on their success in 'poverty-proofing' schools in England.

Legal update

Our legal team has had a busy start to the year. We have several test cases in the courts in the coming months protecting and establishing families' rights, including on universal credit, financial support when a parent has died and the harsh impact of the two-child limit.

Secure Futures news

Our Secure Futures project is progressing at pace, examining the question What does a social security system that provides a secure future for children and families look like?

We have had some fascinating recent contributions to the debate:

On economic inequality and violence against women from Sara Reis at the Women's Budget Group
On why our social security system should be rights-based, clear and unconditional from our trainee solicitor Lynsey Dalton
On the importance of autonomy in the social security system from Steph Kleynhans at Shelter
On how the social security system could be reformed to put children at its centre by Megan Curran at Columbia University
On child poverty and child benefit across Europe by Jonathan Bradshaw
On basic income - an amount of money paid to everyone regardless of their circumstances from our senior policy analyst Tom Lee.

Head shave for CPAG!

A big thank you to star fundraiser Beth who has shaved her head to raise funds for CPAG. Beth, who works with children, was inspired after learning how many children are living in poverty in the UK. She has raised a tremendous £800 to support our work. Thank you Beth!