We know that inequalities for children and young people start before children even start school. 51.5% of children from low-income households achieving a good level of development compared to 72% of their peers. 

In this work we aim to ensure babies, young children, and their families have fair and consistent support —both at home and in their communities – to promote early childhood development no matter their socioeconomic background.  

We look at the policies, practices, resource flows, power dynamics and mental models holding current inequalities in place. We drive change in this through influencing government policy, influencing where resources are channelled, working with organisations, practitioners and families to drive the changes needed and building relationships to improve cross sector working on early childhood. 

Find out more about our Early Childhood Thematic Collaboration here →

Register your interest here →

There is a significant reading gap: 64% of children from low-income households met the expected standard for reading at Key Stage 2 compared to 80% of their peers. Addressing this inequality is critical, not only for its own sake, but also because literacy is foundational to access all other learning. 

In this work we aim to improve literacy, focussing particularly on reading engagement among children and young people from low-income households. To do this we act as the secretariat for the Literacy Link, a network of literacy charities led by a steering group of FEA members who are working together to increase the collective impact of reading charities through collaborations, events, shared evaluation and advocacy.  

In 2026 this work will be centred around the 2026 National Year of Reading. We will be mobilising FEA members to engage and make the most of the opportunity it presents to improve literacy outcomes for children in 2026 and beyond. 

Find out more about our Literacy Thematic Collaboration here →

Register your interest to join the Literacy Link here →

There is already significant inequality in access to employment. Young people from low-income households are 2x more likely to not be in education, employment or training (NEET) than their peers. 

On top of this the workplace is fast changing and, due to many factors -including the acceleration of change in AI and technology - employers are increasingly finding that young people are not being set up to succeed in the workplace by the education and opportunities they get throughout their childhood and adolescence.  

We need a step change in the way we prepare all young people for the workplace, but particularly to make sure young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds aren’t left even further behind. We equally need to ensure employers are set up to be inclusive and prepared to make the most of the talent of young people from all backgrounds.  

This work addresses barriers faced by young people from low-income households throughout their education and childhood which limit their ability to thrive in their careers in later life. 

Our particular focus in this work are: 

• addressing the potential of increased inequality created by AI, where young people from low-income communities are less likely to gain the skills needed to benefit from AI or attend schools that are supported to use it to its full potential. 

• ensuring all children build the essential skills they need to succeed and support the rollout of the Skills Builder Partnership framework as a consistent language for skills development through education, employment and enrichment activities.  

We look at the policies, practices, resource flows, power dynamics and mental models which are keeping current inequalities in place and build relationships between different organisations, young people, employers and communities to more deeply understand the issues and what needs to be done to address them.  

We then act on this by influencing government policy, taking action to change practice in organisations and communities, influence where resource is channelled and lead discussions to change narratives, mindsets and attitudes which are maintaining unhelpful status quos. 

This work compliments the efforts of groups such as The Youth Employment Group and the Fair Access Coalition. We are committed to collaborating with other coalitions to strengthen each other’s activities and avoid duplication.  

Find out more about our Jobs for Tomorrow thematic collaboration here →

Register your interest here →