Research and analysis

Annex D: Cross-government activity supporting local action

Published 9 July 2026

This annex brings together a range of cross-government activity that can be leveraged by local areas to support place-based action on child poverty. The policies and programmes listed are not exhaustive but are offered as stimulus for regional and local areas embarking on or deepening their approach to Child Poverty. These policies and programmes apply differently across the UK based on reserved and devolved matters. This was set out in the Child Poverty Strategy.

Table 1: Strengthening support for children and families

Policy/Strategy	Overview	Lead department
Best Start Family Hubs	A wider network of outreach, network sites and digital services will extend support beyond hub buildings, powered by strong partnerships, dedicated outreach workers and family navigators who connect families to the right services at the right time.	DfE
Children, Families and Youth Grant	A ringfenced grant for local authorities to provide support for children and families across England, reduce inequalities and break down barriers to opportunity. The funding supports more joined-up local delivery across Family Help, multi-agency child protection reform and provision of meals and activities during school holidays.	MHCLG
Families First Partnership Programme	Supports the transformation of children’s social care in England and promotes a more integrated, family-focused approach to early help and child protection by encouraging multi-agency collaboration.	DfE

Table 2: Driving down the costs of essentials

Policy/Strategy	Overview	Lead department
Financial Inclusion Strategy	An ambitious programme of action to address systemic barriers and create opportunities for underserved groups across the UK.	HMT
Fuel Poverty Strategy	Seeks to ensure that 1 million more households are lifted out of fuel poverty by 2030, accelerating progress to the fuel poverty target.	DESNZ
Local Transport Outcomes Framework	The framework for all Local Transport Authorities is aligned with the aims of the Government’s ‘Better Connected’ strategy to balance meaningful local devolution with the government’s responsibility to drive and oversee improvement in services for passengers.	DfT
Transport Poverty Tool	Development of a tool that identifies where transport connectivity and affordability impact low-income households, to inform where targeted interventions could be most beneficial.	DfT
Warm Homes Plan	Sets out how we will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. £15 billion of public investment to upgrade up to 5 million homes and lift up to 1 million households out of fuel poverty by 2030.	DESNZ
Warm Homes Fund	The fund will have £5 billion of capital for investment via financial transactions and could deliver a massive increase in the investment going into low carbon technologies by overcoming barriers to deployment and adoption, such as upfront costs.	DESNZ
Warm Homes - Local Grant	Delivered by local authorities, the grant provides energy performance measures and low carbon heating to low-income households in England to tackle fuel poverty and deliver progress towards Net Zero 2050 and the Carbon Budgets.	DESNZ

Table 3: Strong communities and opportunities for children and young people

Policy/Strategy	Overview	Lead department
Better Futures Fund	Will support up to 200,000 children, young people and their families over the next 10 years by bringing together government, local communities, charities, social enterprises, investors and philanthropists to deliver place-based solutions to complex social problems across England.	DCMS
Community Sports Facilities Programme	Designing and delivering a place-based approach to facilitate delivery of £400 million capital funding into new and upgraded grassroots community sports facilities across the country. Local authorities, in consultation with sports and local communities, will play an active role in identifying the facilities that people in their areas need.	DCMS
Crisis and Resilience Fund	Available to local authorities in England to support low-income households who encounter a financial shock and to support activity that builds individual and community financial resilience.	DWP
Economic Inactivity and Youth Guarantee Trailblazers	Led by Mayoral strategic Authorities and the Welsh Government, to test local approaches to support people who are hardest to reach move towards and into work.	DWP
Emergency Accommodation Reduction Programme	A 3-year programme, committing £30 million to tackle wide range of poor practice, including use of B&Bs.	MHCLG
Get Britain Working Plans	Local Get Britain Working plans in all areas of England, led by local government and co-developed with local NHS, Jobcentre Plus and other stakeholders.	DWP
Local Authority Housing Fund	An innovative capital fund that supports local authorities in England to obtain housing to use as good quality temporary accommodation for those owed a homelessness duty and to provide safe and suitable accommodation to support families on resettlement schemes.	MHCLG
Local Outcomes Framework	Enables outcomes-based performance measurement against key national priorities delivered at the local level and driven by councils as local leaders of place, including a contextual outcome on child poverty.	MHCLG
National Plan to End Homelessness	A £3.6 billion package attached to a long-term vision to end homelessness and rough sleeping, making sure everyone has access to a safe and secure home by addressing the root causes of homelessness, not just managing its consequences.	MHCLG
Neighbourhood Health Framework	Empowers local leaders to develop and scale neighbourhood health. The framework is designed to provide clarity and consistency to support joined-up partnership between Integrated Care Boards and local authorities, as they work together through Health and Wellbeing Boards and with their partners, to develop locally led Neighbourhood Health Plans.	DHSC
Pride in Place	Selected areas will receive up to £20 million of funding and support over the next 10 years to make long-term improvements that residents want. Communities will be able to spend the funding on what matters most to them.	MHCLG
Social and Affordable Homes Programme	Provides grant funding to support the capital costs of developing social and affordable housing in England. Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities can set the strategic direction of the programme in their areas outside London.	MHCLG
Test, Learn and Grow Programme	A three-year programme that partners central government with places to design, test and scale solutions to complex public service challenges. Bringing together local experts, frontline workers and communities, multidisciplinary teams design and test user-centred services that improve over time, with successful approaches scaled up and learning shared openly across government and the wider public sector.	Cabinet Office