Dear Prime Minister and Members of Government,
As a movement committed to building strong, inclusive communities through education, housing, youth, and family support, Oasis welcomes the publication of Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty and its bold ambition to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030. The removal of the two-child benefit cap and commitments to improve housing and local services are significant steps forward. If delivered well, these measures could transform thousands of lives.
But poverty is not just a statistic – it’s a daily reality that shapes every aspect of a child’s life. It’s their health, education, and future opportunities. Today, 4.5 million children in the UK are growing up in poverty, and even with these reforms, millions will remain at risk.
At Oasis, we see this reality every day. For over 40 years, we’ve worked in communities across the UK and beyond that face disadvantage due to a system that doesn’t work. We partner with local neighbourhoods to create places where everyone can thrive. Through our family of organisations we provide wraparound support, strengthening education, housing, food security, youth work, and mental health services.
This year, we launched a pioneering housing initiative in Sheffield and Scunthorpe, purchasing 20 properties to give families hardest hit by poverty secure, affordable homes – creating 60 bed spaces so children can stay in school and flourish. Our community hubs support thousands with food, debt advice, and holiday activities, ensuring children don’t go hungry. Across our more than 55 academies, wellbeing platforms and specialist staff now support 32,000 students, building resilience and enabling early mental health interventions. From helping young people and families affected by violence and exploitation, to mentoring students facing exclusion and disadvantage, every story proves that whilst poverty is complex, change is possible.
The Government’s strategy rightly focuses on boosting family incomes and reducing essential costs. But lasting change requires a joined-up approach that works with communities and local partners to integrate education, housing, health, and social care. Oasis stands ready to partner with you to deliver this vision. Our experience shows that holistic, community-based solutions work. We invite you to collaborate with us to scale these models nationally.
We need systemic change to break the cycle of child poverty. That means embedding long-term ambition with legally binding targets to halve child poverty within a decade; investing in community infrastructure by expanding already impactful family hubs and integrated local services; and championing inclusion by tackling structural inequalities that impact the most disadvantaged households. Together, these steps can create a fairer future for every child.
Every child deserves the chance to thrive. Together, we can make this a reality — not just for 550,000 children, but for every child in our nation.
Signed,
Steve Chalke, Founder of Oasis & Dave Parr, Group CEO of Oasis
