Tackling child poverty - what works best?

Brief summary of Brussels meeting

9th December 2008
Brussels

The European Cities Against Child Poverty held a seminar on 9 December 2008 in Brussels: “Tackling Child Poverty: What Works Best?” Delegates from five partner cities and representatives from over a dozen European regions attended. The seminar focused on the two main themes explored at the London and Milan events.

• Practical methods to increase access to employment for parents.
• The role of education in helping to break cycles of deprivation.

Delegates discussed why featured projects from Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Helsinki, London and Milan had enjoyed success, and whether such projects could be transferred to the delegates’ own regions. Representatives from DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities gave presentations about the PROGRESS fund and about 2010 – the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Attendees of the seminar were able to draw conclusions on what makes a project successful.

• Flexibility – ability to tailor the project to individuals
• Positive branding – motivating participants to commit
• Individual support – addressing particular needs
• Evaluation of impact and value for money
• Involvement of role models and “adults who care”.

Read the agenda for the seminar
Download our December 2008 newsletter containing a summary of issues discussed at the event