Friday 12 June 2009
As a founding member of the Campaign to End
Child Poverty, NCB is disappointed by the government's un-ambitious
target to reduce the proportion of children living in poverty to
only 10%. Child poverty rates in Europe show that 5% is achievable
and as one of world's wealthiest countries, we should be leading
the way.
However, NCB does welcome the Bill's framework for a UK-wide
child poverty strategy and measures which will help to ensure that
central and local governments - whatever their political leaning or
economic circumstances -prioritise ending child poverty.
Paul Ennals, NCB Chief Executive, said, 'Legislation is only the
first step towards ensuring we meet the 2020 goal to eradicate
child poverty. In our current economic climate, never before has
eradicating child poverty been more important. The further into the
recession we get, we see the numbers of families falling below the
poverty line increasing, and those children and young people
already living in poverty and hardship sliding further down the
scale.
'The government's strategy must include specific proposals to
target groups we know are at risk of poverty, such as families with
a disabled child or parent, single parent families and looked after
children.'
NCB is calling on government to launch a public awareness
campaign to ensure local communities appreciate the significance of
child poverty and its impact on the whole of society. We want the
public to hold politicians to account for their role in meeting the
2020 goal, especially in circumstances where public funds are
limited.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
NCB's mission is to advance the well-being of all children and
young people across every aspect of their lives. As a membership
and infrastructure support agency for the children's sector in
England and Northern Ireland, NCB provides essential information on
policy, research and best practice for our members and the members
of our wide range of partnership bodies, which operate under our
charitable status and are based in our London headquarters. For
further information visit http://www.ncb.org.uk/
For further information on NCB, please contact the NCB Media
Office:
Clare Quarrell/Anna Tombs/Aoife Allen on 0207 843
6044/6045/6047
Media Office Mobile - 07721 097033 or e-mail: media@ncb.org.uk