Liverpool commits to 10-year framework to tackle poverty and improve life chances 

Liverpool City Council is set to approve a 10-year Anti-Poverty Framework (2026 – 2036) aimed at preventing and reducing poverty while improving life chances for residents across the city.  

The new framework brings together the Council’s existing anti-poverty work into one clear plan, helping services and partners work more closely together and making it easier to track progress and results. 

The framework sets out a ten-year vision to prevent, reduce and limit the impact of poverty in Liverpool. It focuses on acting earlier to stop people falling into crisis, listening to residents’ experiences, improving access to essentials like food, housing and digital services, supporting better opportunities for children and families, promoting inclusive jobs and economic growth, and making sure the impact on poverty is considered in major Council decisions.  

It has been shaped by feedback from communities and partners, local data on poverty, discussions across Council departments, and by aligning with key city strategies such as the Council Plan, Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy, Housing Strategy, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, Family Help Partnership Strategy and the Fairer, Healthier Liverpool Partnership. 

Liverpool remains one of the most deprived local authority areas in England, with 37% of neighbourhoods among the most deprived 10% nationally. Child poverty is a particular challenge, with 53.3% of children living in income-deprived households. 

Some groups are more likely to experience poverty than others. This includes children and young people, disabled people and carers, older residents, some ethnic minority communities, lone-parent families, families with access and support needs, migrants who cannot access public funds, and women facing economic inequality. 

The framework recognises these differences and takes an equalities-focused approach, in line with the Council’s equality objectives and anti-racism strategy. 

Councillor Ruth Bennett, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Transformation, said: 

“This framework sets out our long-term commitment to tackling poverty and improving opportunities for people across Liverpool. Too many residents and families continue to face financial hardship, and we know the effects are felt across many areas of life, from housing and employment to education and wellbeing. 

“By bringing our work together in one clear plan, we can take a more joined-up and evidence-based approach with partners across the city. Our focus is on supporting people earlier, tackling the root causes of poverty and making sure everyone in Liverpool has the opportunity to succeed.” 

Key actions include continuing the £2.1m Liverpool Citizen Support Scheme, improving access to affordable food and Free School Meals, helping residents struggling with energy costs through the Healthy Homes service, and tackling digital exclusion by providing devices and free mobile data. 

The plan also includes expanding face-to-face support services, rebuilding youth services, and creating a multi-year Crisis Resilience Fund from April 2026 to help people during difficult times. 

The Council will also look at creating a Liverpool-specific measure of poverty and holding a citywide review of poverty every two years to track progress and better understand the challenges residents face. 

Together, the framework provides a long-term, coordinated and evidence-based approach to tackle the causes of poverty, help people become more financially secure, and improve opportunities for residents and communities across Liverpool.