Eastside Hosts First Meeting of New Child Poverty Partnership Board
Eastside Community Trust was proud to welcome regional leaders, charities, educators and community organisations to Felix Road Adventure Playground this week for the inaugural meeting of the West of England Child Poverty Partnership Board; a major new collaboration focused on tackling child poverty across the region.
The board, co‑chaired by Mayor Helen Godwin and Andy Street, brings together partners from across education, health, local government, policing and the voluntary sector, with a shared aim to turn regional ambition into meaningful action for the 67,000 children currently growing up in poverty across the West of England.
Why Felix Road
For Eastside Community Trust, hosting this first meeting was more than symbolic, it was a recognition of the work already happening here in Easton and Lawrence Hill to support children and families.
“We have over 1,600 children and young people on register at Felix Road in one of the poorest parts of the region,” said Tom Williams, Deputy CEO of Eastside Community Trust.“With free food six days a week and high‑energy adventure play on our one‑acre site, we’re building communities of resilience. We’re delighted to host this first meeting and ensure the voices of local families are at the heart of regional action.”
Felix Road has long been a hub for children who need safe spaces, nutritious food, and opportunities to thrive. Hosting the board here ensured that decision‑makers saw first-hand the realities, and the strengths, of communities most affected by child poverty.
During the meeting, board members discussed the four priority areas of the new Child Poverty Action Plan:
- Reducing the cost of living for families
- Supporting children to grow, learn and thrive
- Connecting young people to opportunities and services
- Pioneering new approaches for children and families
The board will meet quarterly to track progress, explore investment opportunities, and ensure the Mayor can champion key issues with national government.
Mayor Helen Godwin emphasised the urgency of the work:
“Child poverty is not an abstract problem. Many children are arriving at school too hungry to learn or play. That must change.”
She highlighted initiatives such as Kids Go Free, which delivered 1.4 million free bus journeys for under‑16s, with the biggest increases in areas with the lowest incomes.
Partnership in Action
Deputy CEO, Tom Williams represented Eastside, with others from across the region, including leaders from Learning Partnership West, Women’s Work Lab, Sirona, Cabot Learning Federation, Babbasa, Empire Fighting Chance, and Raised in Bristol.
What Happens Next?
The Child Poverty Action Plan sets out a wide range of upcoming actions, including:
- Expanding Early Years provision
- Launching the VCSE Youth Guarantee Fund
- Supporting young people into work or training
- Building more affordable and social homes
- Creating a new distribution hub for essential items
- Continuing Kids Go Free for children and young people
The meeting reinforced our commitment to ensuring that local families are not only represented but centered in regional decision‑making.
At Eastside Community Trust, we know that tackling child poverty is not just about policy, it’s about people, places, and long‑term relationships. It’s about:
- Creating safe spaces where children can play freely
- Providing food security through community meals
- Supporting parents and carers
- Building community resilience from the ground up
