Parents and carers from Changing Realities, a collaboration of over 200 parents and carers on a low-income led by the University of Glasgow, met with the UK’s Prime Minister in Scotland and Wales in recognition of the impact they have had on shaping the Child Poverty Strategy.

Around 550,000 children will be lifted out of poverty by 2030 – the biggest reduction in a single parliament since records began, according to the UK Government, which launched their Child Poverty Strategy on 5 December.

Parents and carers on a low-income and researchers from Changing Realities have been meeting with senior politicians over the past 12 months to share their experiences and lobby for change, which Sir Keir Starmer has praised for contributing to the development of the strategy.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Reducing record levels of child poverty seen over the past decade across the UK can only be met with strong partnerships, evidence led research and strong delivery on the ground within communities.

“I was delighted to meet members of Changing Realities both in Glasgow and in Cardiff, partners who have helped shape our plans to reduce child poverty, starting by lifting the two-child cap.

"This vital work is a first step to lift hundreds of thousands of children out of the poverty trap, and an investment in their future potential." 

The Prime Minister also wrote to Changing Realities, thanking them for their input into the development of the Child Poverty Strategy.

Following the reversal of the two-child limit in the Chancellor’s Budget 2025, the Child Poverty Strategy tackles seeks to tackle the root causes of poverty by cutting the cost of essentials, boosting family incomes, and improving local services so every child has the best start in life.

The strategy found that children growing up in poverty do less well in school, are more likely to be unemployed when older and earn less throughout their lifetimes. Failure to tackle this problem has been holding back the economy, as well as stifling children’s potential.

New interventions in the strategy include more accessible childcare for working parents on Universal Credit. Childcare costs are one of the biggest barriers for parents who want to work and those starting or returning to jobs can particularly struggle to cover upfront childcare fees before they receive their first payslip.

From next year, the rules will change to make it easier for new parents who receive Universal Credit to get back to work by extending eligibility for upfront childcare costs to those returning from parental leave. This will prevent new parents from facing a debt trap meaning more parents can get back to work and get on in work faster.

To support more parents with more than two children into work, families who receive Universal Credit will also be able to get support with childcare costs for all their children. 

Brian, a parent who has been working with Changing Realities, was present at the meeting in Glasgow. He said: “It was a huge personal feeling of achievement when I started to read the government’s Child Poverty Strategy which many families have been working so hard on in collaboration with Changing Realities.

“The Prime Minister was happy to reply to all points put to him and gave a sense of firm commitment to not only bring down child poverty, but also give help for all children to be able to achieve their full potential in education along with their future lives. This will have a genuine effect on families helping to bring more families out of immediate poverty.

“At Changing Realities, we are determined to carry on our work, working closely with the government, with our lived experiences being such an important part of why change is needed so desperately.”

Fellow parent Toyin added: "It was an amazing experience. I was thrilled to meet the Prime Minister, that meant a lot to me. I spoke about including the children of the asylum community in social security, like having access to benefits as asylum seekers are not allowed to work. My son was over the moon, he got so emotional watching the video and he went on to tell his headteacher and they have promised to make the announcement in the assembly."

Stacey also discussed her experiences with the Prime Minister in Wales. She said: “After championing the removal of the two-child limit over the last year, even though my own family won’t benefit it is great to finally feel listened to, knowing the difference this change will make. As a parent who knows first-hand the harm poverty causes, I stand ready and determined to continue the work required to ensure that no child in this country faces poverty. I call on all of us to do the same.”

Changing Realities is a collaboration of over 200 parents and carers in poverty working in collaboration with researchers at the University of Glasgow and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to push for change.

Professor Ruth Patrick, who leads Changing Realities at the University of Glasgow, said: “Over the past year, I have been so proud to see the incredible work of Changing Realities, with parents who themselves face a daily struggle to get by taking time out of their already busy lives to meet with senior politicians and co-produce policy recommendations for change.

“The fight to try and get effective action on child poverty continues. The full lifting of the two-child limit in the Chancellor’s Budget was an important step in the right direction – but child poverty is not something that can be eradicated overnight, and with the Scottish budget ahead of us, there remains much to do. The UK’s first child poverty strategy in over a decade is an important first step in the vital work needed from all of us to eradicate what has rightly been described as the moral stain of child poverty.”

Banner photo courtesy of No 10 Downing Street.

First published: 9 December 2025

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