We must put our families at the centre of our policy solutions around social services and put in place the stepping stones to allow them to make a better future for themselves and their families. What people who are suffering from hardship and poverty need is hope, but hope is not a strategy in and of itself. What we need is a realistic pathway to move from welfare into paid employment, something that is recognised by the OECD as the most effective way to reduce the risk of child poverty, enhance child development, and give our children the best start in life. 