The wide-ranging work taking place across Calderdale to support people who are struggling with the impacts of the rising cost of living, is being highlighted in the 2025 Anti-Poverty Annual Report and Action Plan.
Reducing inequalities is one of Calderdale Council’s priorities, with a key focus on supporting residents with cost of living pressures. The Council works closely alongside partners and the wider community to make a meaningful difference to many people’s lives, helping them to alleviate financial pressures and access vital support services.
The Calderdale Anti-Poverty Annual Report and Action Plan was first produced in 2018 and has been updated each year to highlight key issues, as well as the work that has been undertaken and is planned across the borough. At the meeting of Calderdale Council’s Cabinet on Monday 8 December, Members will consider the 2025 report and action plan.
The Anti-Poverty Action Plan has three key priorities:
- Prevention: To prevent local residents from falling into poverty.
- Intervention: To provide support to local residents who have fallen into poverty, to bring them back out of poverty.
- Resilience: To provide local residents with the tools to help them stay out of poverty.
The Council has a longstanding commitment to work in partnership with statutory and voluntary sector partners and work is coordinated through the borough’s Anti-Poverty Partnership. The work of the partnership is informed by the action plan to ensure resources are directed where they will have the greatest impact.
The Annual Report highlights the partnership’s key achievements through the year, including details of the successful events programme. Two main events were held in April and September, collectively attended by over 200 people, supporting local organisations to find out more about specific areas of work to better support residents.
Efforts have continued this year to further develop content for the Money and Wellbeing webpages(external link) and cost of living campaign work. Support for frontline workers has also been expanded, with factsheets and regular newsletters and a growing base of Money Guiders, a national programme giving customer facing staff the tools, confidence and knowledge to start conversations about money.
There are currently 130 Money Guiders in the borough, with work continuing to strengthen and expand this provision.
Despite this progress, child poverty is increasing, both nationally and in Calderdale. This will therefore be a significant focus for the Anti-Poverty Partnership in 2026.
The Council’s Cabinet will be asked to note the report and to support the partnership’s approach to tackling poverty and the cost of living crisis. This includes efforts to seek new ways and opportunities to strengthen joint co-ordinated action.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, Cllr Danielle Durrans, said:
“We understand the many challenges that residents are facing, with cost of living pressures and financial worries resulting in more people reaching crisis point.
“We’re committed to reducing inequalities in the borough and as part of the Anti-Poverty Partnership we provide a range of support, with over 30 partner agencies, to alleviate poverty.
“We continue to acknowledge the serious challenges in tackling the many issues brought on by poverty and the rising cost of living, but through our collective efforts we have made a meaningful difference for many people.
“The Annual Report is an opportunity to reflect on the good progress made in the last 12 months and identify where we can strengthen or expand work to reach the people who need our help most.”
The Anti-Poverty Action Plan and Annual Report will be discussed at the meeting of Calderdale Council’s Cabinet on Monday 8 December 2025 at Halifax Town Hall.
The meeting will also be live streamed online at https://calderdale.public-i.tv/core/portal/home(external link)