A FORMER Teesside MP has taken up a new role as the chairwoman of a regional child poverty network.

Anna Turley, who served Redcar for Labour between 2015 and 2019, has been appointed as the new independent chair of the North East Child Poverty Commission (NECPC).

Ms Turley will formally take over the voluntary position in May 2022, when the current Chairwoman– Jane Streather – steps down after six years in this role.

NECPC is a voluntary, regional cross-sector stakeholder network which campaigns to end child poverty in the North East. 

With a long history of campaigning to end child poverty and social exclusion, Ms Turley has worked on these issues as a civil servant, as a special adviser to ministers, when leading a national think tank on local government and as a shadow minister for civil society.

Read more: Plea for support to protect families from poverty and energy crisis

As the former MP for Redcar, she worked in the front line of her community to help people overcome the challenges of poverty and deprivation, and took their challenges to Parliament, including by establishing a cross-party task force to improve support for kinship carers.

Anna has lived in the North East for a decade and lives in Redcar today.

Speaking of the new role, Ms Turley said: “I am really pleased to have been confirmed as the new Chair of the NECPC and am looking forward to working with colleagues in different sectors right across the region on this vital issue.

“The North East is a fantastic place to live and grow up, but rising child poverty means that far too many babies, children and young people are unable to benefit from everything our beautiful region has to offer, and having their life chances and opportunities restricted as a result.

“That injustice damages all of us – but child poverty is absolutely not inevitable, with the right investment and policies in place. I am determined for this to be recognised and acted upon across all sectors and levels of government.”

The outgoing chairwoman of the commission, Jane Streather, held the role for six years.

She added: “Anna has a long history of working and campaigning to end inequality and social exclusion, and I am delighted to be handing on the role of Chair of the Commission to her in May.

“There is some incredible work taking place across the North East to fight the scourge of child poverty – by community groups, charities, schools, local councils, faith organisations and many others – and it has been a privilege to work with many of them over the last six years.

“Sadly, child poverty is increasing nationwide but it is particularly high in our region. Although much is being done by many to prevent and mitigate the harmful impact on children’s lives and their futures, it is Government action that can make a huge difference.

“I have no doubt Anna will be relentless – alongside colleagues on the Commission – in taking the campaign to end child poverty in the North East forward.”

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