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poverty
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Unemployment creating new child poverty crisis
YWCA campaigns to End Child Poverty
YWCA is part of The Campaign to End Child Poverty, a coalition of more than 150 organisations working for every child in Britain to get the quality of life they deserve.
A staggering two million British children now have no parent in work and the number of children in families having to survive on benefits has jumped by 170,000 in just twelve months according to a new report published by the Campaign to End Child Poverty. Child poverty is growing in affluent areas as well as those traditionally hard hit.
Through Thick and Thin: Tackling Child Poverty in Hard Times, written by leading social policy researcher Donald Hirsch, provides strong evidence for the government to implement End Child Poverty's "Recession Recovery Package".
The report warns that the number of children in families without jobs is rising to its highest level for a decade. It claims that without substantial investment now, 2.3 million children will be living in poverty in 2010, more than half a million above the government's target. Investing £4 billion would take the government close to its aim of halving child poverty.
The report contains some surprises. Affluent Berkshire and Surrey have suffered the highest proportionate rises in unemployment. And there has been an 18% rise in families with both parents out of work. After housing costs, a couple with two small children is left with £225 a week for everything, which puts them £115 below the poverty line.
The report also urges the government to give better financial support to parents who are out of work or in low-paid jobs, to help make work pay during the recovery.
You can help by contacting your local MP, Chancellor or local newspaper to press the government to invest in financial support for families in the Pre-Budget Report and action the Recession Recovery Package.
ACT NOW: Email your MP now at http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/speakout/childpovertyPBR
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