The Uk's Abandoned Children - Barnardo's Response To HBAI Statistics

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 08 May 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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Responding to today's Households Below Average Income (HBAI) figures which find there has been no improvement in the number of children living in poverty, Martin Narey, Chief Executive, Barnardo's said:

"Those struggling the most in this recession are families living in poverty. These figures, which should shame us, are dramatic proof of the moral failure of last month's budget which abandoned those families in the greatest need. A family of Mum and Dad and two teenagers, with Dad working full time but on minimum wage are struggling to survive on an income far below the Government's own poverty line. Last month's budget gave such a family just 76 pence a week. Not enough for a decent loaf of bread.

"Today's figures provide confirmation that Labour have abandoned their bravest commitment - to halve child poverty by 2010. For the families left to languish in the misery and debt that poverty inflicts, that is a tragedy."

Notes

- In 1999 the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair pledged to halve child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020.

- On the Government's own measure (Before Housing Costs) there are 2.9 million children living in poverty. This has fallen by 600 from 3.4 since 1998/99. It needs to fall to 1.7m for Government to meet its target.

- The weekly income after housing costs for a couple with 2 children where one parent works full-time at the NMW is £258 a week - the Government's poverty line is £312.

- Barnardo's works with approximately 115,000 children, young people and their families in more than 394 specialised projects in local communities across the UK. This includes work with children affected by today's most urgent issues: poverty, homelessness, disability, bereavement and abuse. For more information about Barnardo's visit our website athttp:// www.barnardos.org.uk

- We believe in the potential in every child and young person, no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. We will support them, stand up for them and bring out the best in each and every child.

Source
Barnardo's

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