UK government launches Better Futures Fund to tackle child poverty 

Railway Children call for further measures to address record-level child poverty rates and protect vulnerable young people from criminal exploitation.  

Author: Con Enzler | Date: 17th July 2025

The government has announced a new £500m fund to support vulnerable children and young people in the UK. 

The Better Futures Fund will aim to increase pupil attendance and help children struggling with exclusion, mental health and crime.  

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says the fund will give hundreds of thousands of children, young people and their families a better chance.  

In addition to their own funding, the government plans to raise another £500m to keep the fund running for ten years.   

The decision comes amid growing pressure for the government to do more to tackle the growing problem of child poverty.

The latest figures show that a record 4.5 million children were living in poverty in the year leading up to April 2024*.   

While this is a positive step, Railway Children emphasise the need for further funding to help the millions of vulnerable children who are bearing the brunt of recent support cuts.  

We are interested to see what mechanism will be used to ensure the fund reaches those children most in need, focusing on long-term solutions that create lasting change for children and their families. 

Rob Capener, Railway Children Chief Executive, said:

“Vulnerable young people are at high risk of facing exploitation across the country. This move is a good start in addressing some of the issues that are keeping so many children trapped in a cycle of poverty and exploitation. 

“But with the shocking rise in child poverty we’ve seen over the last five years, we’re eager to see what additional measures the government will take to address the huge scale of the issue and give vulnerable children a chance at a better life.” 

*Households below Average Income, UK Government, 2025