The Steve Morgan Foundation was the headline sponsor of the Place Matters Collaborative Action Summit on Child Poverty on 24 June.
The event was an extremely thought-provoking and engaging day involving place-based leaders, funders, policy makers, practitioners and inspirational community members from across the globe. It was filled with energy, enthusiasm and excitement around the endless possibilities that can be achieved when people in places work together in partnership.
As we embark on the delivery of our new five-year strategy, it is important for us to reflect on how we turn this rich learning into actionable insight that makes a long-term, tangible difference to the communities we serve.
The key messages we took from the day were:
Child poverty is a systemic issue
- Poverty is not just a lack of money – it’s a systemic inequity, and ending child poverty is both a moral and strategic imperative.
Place-based, community-led change is essential
- “Place” is the engine of change – where people live, grow, and connect and local communities must be at the heart of decision-making and implementation.
- Devolution and local community empowerment are key to sustainable solutions.
Collaboration across sectors is crucial
- Government, philanthropy, organisations and communities need to work together, as joint strategies, shared investments, and co-created plans are more effective.
- Philanthropy can take risks and innovate, while government has the potential to scale and sustain.
Listening, learning and adapting are integral
- Authentic listening, not just consultation, is essential, and transparency, humility, and proximity to lived experience are key.
Data, measurement and accountability maintain momentum
- Ambitious goals drive action and data sharing enables targeted, joined-up and more effective services.
Education is essential but not sufficient
- Schools are and must continue to be deeply rooted in communities and supported by broader services. Great schools alone cannot overcome the intersectional and intractable challenges of poverty.
Balancing urgency and sustainable change is key
- Immediate action is needed alongside long-term, durable change. Communities want to act now and long delays erode trust and momentum.
An awareness of all of the above for anyone wanting to support place-based, systems change is absolutely essential, but one of the many powerful quotes from the event was a stark reminder that “No child gets a second childhood” and that we must not allow momentum to fall into the notorious knowing-doing gap.
As a foundation we are incredibly passionate about place-based change in our region and our ‘commitment to action’ from the day is already underway with a meeting scheduled with like-minded funders discussing future opportunities to collaboratively focus our respective resources in a place.