The importance of local anti-poverty strategies
By Alexis Darby, Head of Advocacy, Policy and Research
At GMPA we work with local authorities across Greater Manchester on the design and implementation of their anti-poverty strategies. As the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit more and more people, local councils have a key role to play in offering guidance and support to residents.
Occasionally places outside of the city region reach out to GMPA for support. Recently our CEO, Graham Whitham, met with Oxford City Council’s child poverty review group to discuss steps the council could take to become an ‘anti-poverty’ council. It’s great to see the publication of their report ‘Child Poverty In Oxford’ which sets out recommendations for an anti-poverty strategy and includes taking a cash first approach to local welfare which gives residents maximum dignity, choice and control when accessing local welfare support. Crucially, this approach gets more money into people’s pockets, boosts household income and is the preferred choice for individuals facing financial crisis rather than the use of food banks, vouchers or other in-kind support.
Across Greater Manchester, Salford has a robust anti-poverty strategy in place that focuses on creating a more inclusive borough by preventing people falling into poverty, providing targeted support for people struggling in poverty and campaigning for long term change in Government policies and practices.
We know that other boroughs are in the stages of updating their strategies and we are currently supporting Trafford Council and Manchester City Council on updating their anti-poverty strategies.
