Children in Poverty
The target to halve child poverty by 2010 is unlikely to be met. Latest figures, as shown in Children and Young People Now,12- 18 Jan, show that around 2.9 million children are living in poverty before housing costs are taken into account, which is 650,000 short of the target.
Much of our work (SmithMartin Partnership LLP) is related to families and helping to raise aspirations. It’s about a realisation of how difficult it is to help children and parents back into activities and back to having fun.
As an example, if children don’t have the right footwear for activity sessions, it’s much easier for parents to say, ‘No thanks we can’t get to the kids active group after school’.
It’s like a snowball of needs that just can’t be stopped from rolling right down the hill.
Programmes that work directly with families, eg. Newcastle City Council on supporting teenage fathers are having a real benefit.
Let’s hope that grass roots methods can create a raft of support that can actually deliver, and be shown to really lift children out of poverty.