The visit by Catherine McKinnell, the Education Minister, to Teesside Academy of Gymnastics …. During her tour she underlined the government’s commitment to addressing child poverty on the ground in Middlesbrough. The minister acknowledged the growing issue as a “massive challenge.” He reiterated that the government is “dead set” that a child’s background should not hold them back from their potential.
In-person engagement with kids featured largely during her visit, as McKinnell toured children participating in the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. Locally, this effort is called Bring it on Boro. This program focuses on those children who are eligible for free school meals. It empowers them with new skills and helps them feel confident enough to socialize and make friends. McKinnell mentioned how kids screamed about getting back to the programme and how it changed their lives. It really struck a chord.
At the same time, Middlesbrough has one of the highest child poverty rates in the country. New data from the Department of Work and Pensions has shown just how alarming that figure is. As many as 85% of children residing in the Newport ward are affected by poverty. Statistics were described as “dire” by the town’s first elected mayor, Chris Cooke. In particular, he shone a spotlight on the urgent need for proven measures to address this growing crisis.
Speaking at the Teesside Academy, McKinnell praised the effects of programs such as Bring it on Boro. These programs benefit parents by providing meaningful work. The benefits to children are even more substantial.
“Not only does it give parents a chance to work, it really boosts the children’s outcomes as well,” – Catherine McKinnell
Their Bring it on Boro campaign summer program made 27,000 spaces available by partnering with 50 different summer providers. It uniquely focused on children between the ages of five and sixteen. McKinnell did lodge a reminder that the federal government needs to do more to address rising child poverty, which she said is “totally unacceptable.”
“But I recognise there is a huge challenge. It is worrying that child poverty has been going up and up, which is totally unacceptable and needs to be turned around,” – Catherine McKinnell
HAF has been immensely important recreationally, says Chris Cooke. He highlighted how it provides access to kids that wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to that.
“It’s an inspiring place and HAF opens the doors to kids who wouldn’t normally come here – they’ll definitely want to come back,” – Chris Cooke
