The upcoming spending review is anticipated to boost funding for local children's services reminiscent of Sure Start, even as a broader child poverty strategy is deferred until autumn. Sure Start, a hallmark of New Labour, aimed to tackle disadvantage in early years, paralleled by the New Deal for Communities, which funded impoverished areas. However, the government’s previous focus on ‘levelling up’ under Boris Johnson has waned, sidelining geographical disparities in favor of health and housing issues. With new insights from the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods, there’s a push for urgent resource allocation to severely deprived regions, although challenges remain.
A boost to Sure Start-type investment in local children’s services is expected in next week’s spending review, although a comprehensive child poverty plan has been postponed.
Sure Start represented New Labour’s strategy for early childhood investment, and was complemented by the New Deal for Communities aimed at deprived neighborhoods.
Despite its promises, the ‘levelling up’ agenda, championed by Boris Johnson, has faltered, with geographical inequalities sidelined for other priorities like health and housing.
The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods continues to advocate for resources to support the most deprived areas, while acknowledging that funding alone cannot resolve complex community issues.
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