38 Degrees, the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT), and partner organisations are celebrating a major campaign victory after the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, announced in the Budget on Wednesday that the two-child limit on benefits will be abolished from April 2026, a change expected to lift around 450,000 children out of poverty.
Roo Stewart, Head of Public Issues, praised the sustained efforts of JPIT and its partners in lobbying the government to act, highlighting the significance of this long-awaited policy shift.
JPIT, of which the United Reformed Church is a member, has been calling for the two-child cap to end since its introduction in 2017. In recognition of this significant step forward, 38 Degrees, which has also campaigned for the change, is funding full-page newspaper adverts on behalf of partner organisations in key regional outlets covering constituencies with some of the highest levels of child poverty. These ads will appear in publications including the Yorkshire Post, Birmingham Mail, and Manchester Evening News.
Roo said: “Campaigning for justice is a tiring pursuit, often peppered with frustration and disappointments along the way. It is gratifying to know that, this time, the government has listened to the calls of families, faith groups and civil society to change a policy that has impacted hard on families that are struggling to afford the essentials. This change of policy won’t solve all of the UK’s issues around poverty, but it will have a profound impact on many children.
“We will be relentless in continuing to amplify the voices of the poorest and most marginalised in society, to create thriving and resilient communities.
As this change won’t take place until April, it will still be very challenging over the Christmas and New Year period for families across the UK experiencing poverty. Please consider how you and your congregation might support families that are struggling in your neighbourhood.”
The URC has produced a free, Reverse Advent Calendar to help donations to foodbanks this Christmas. The calendar lists regular and festive items requested by foodbanks, with a check list to view what’s been donated and related notes about your donations. Download the printable A4 calendar.
Roo also offers this prayer:
God of hope,
Thank you for young lives in the UK,
full of potential, curiosity and wonder.
Bless them today
with the shelter, food, warmth
and care they need to survive,
and the love, learning
and opportunities they need to thrive.
For families who struggle
to afford the basics each week,
especially in colder months,
may the UK Government’s change of policy
bring hope for a better future.
Amen.