Children in Wales welcomes the Child Poverty Act which has received Royal Assent.
In 1999 the UK Government made an historic commitment to half child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020. In spite of interventions made in the last few years to reach the 2010 target the most recent figures for Wales show that 32% of children live in low-income households.
The new Child Poverty Act places the 2020 commitment into law and will require any future UK Government to publish a Child Poverty Strategy evaluating the progress towards meeting the targets and setting out future action. Child poverty campaigners including Children in Wales have welcomed the commitment this shows. Effectively it means that whichever administration is in power after the general election is kept to task on reducing child poverty rates.
Sean O’Neill, Policy Director at Children in Wales explained, "Despite the likelihood of the UK Government falling short of meeting their interim target of halving child poverty by 2010, Children in Wales welcomes the Child Poverty Act as a significant step in the right direction towards meeting its promise to eradicate child poverty by 2020.
However, the number of children living in families below the poverty threshold is increasing in line with the rise in unemployment levels, particularly amongst young people witnessed in Wales. Families with children and young people need immediate help and support now, and we are supporting calls for investment to be urgently channeled to help the poorest families in times of greatest need. This includes restoring the ‘safety net’ to ensure that out-of-work benefits offer security in times of joblessness, and for those in low-paid work, financial support is available through working and child tax credits. Ensuring that families are taking up their full entitlement to this support should also be prioritized.
Children in Wales, as part of the coalition End Child Poverty Network Cymru will continue to monitor progress made by Government to help ensure that we do not lose another generation to economic inactivity, poverty and material deprivation."
1. Children in Wales is the national umbrella organisation for voluntary, statutory and professional organisations and individuals who work with children and young people in Wales. www.childreninwales.org.uk . Children in Wales was established in March 1992 and became a registered charity in 1993. It aims to promote the interests of children, to improve services in Wales and to put children high on the Welsh agenda. We work closely with our members who comprise professionals, policy makers and consumer groups to improve the lives of all children living in Wales, but especially young children, those affected by family instability, children with special needs or disabilities, and those suffering the effects of poverty and deprivation. We collect and disseminate information about children and promote good practice in children's services through research, policy and practice development, publications, conferences, seminars, training and access to an extensive library and information service. Children in Wales has offices in Cardiff and Caernarfon.
2. The End Child Poverty Network Cymru is a coalition of concern focused on the eradication of child poverty in Wales, co-ordinated and managed on a day-to-day basis by Children in Wales. Its steering group include representation from across the voluntary and statutory sectors and the Network has an increasing number of supporting members from a broad cross-section of agencies.
3. For further information regarding this press release contact:
Sean O’Neill, Policy Director at Children in Wales,
E-mail: sean.oneill@childreninwales.org.uk
Tel: 029 2034 2434,
Children in Wales, 25 Windsor Place, Cardiff