Campaigners are one step closer to a government u-turn on welfare reform today after peers and bishops revealed they will press for changes to the proposed cap on benefits. It’s estimated the £500-a-week limit on benefits, due to be debated in the House of Lords today, will affect 50,000 households, all losing around £93 per week. Charities have warned the [...]
The London borough of Tower Hamlets occupies the unenviable top spot on a list, published today, of councils with the highest number of children living in poverty. More than half (52%) of children in the borough are living in poverty, according to a UK-wide ’child poverty map’ and report, published today by the End Child Poverty campaign. Tower Hamlets [...]
It seems the UK spends more money on families than most other economically developed countries but for fewer outcomes. In other words it’s not from lack of money that children have poorer outcomes in this country, its because of lack of strategic thinking. The study of all countries of the Organisation of Co-operation and Economic Development (OECD) found Britain spent 3.6% of [...]
Deputy PM Nick Clegg has announced the establishment of a child poverty and social mobility commission, following heavy criticism that the government has downgraded its committment to ending child poverty. It has not, however, had the desired effect having already come under fire from campaigners and politicians. The statutory commission - headed by the government’s adviser on social mobility former [...]
Morning all. A quick Monday trawl of the internet has yielded the following must-reads: Child poverty campaigners have written to the government warning ministers that they have broken a legal commitment to implement the Child Poverty Act fully, the guardian reports. A parent has begun legal action against Hampshire County Council over its plans for [...]
The government confirmed its commitment to ending child poverty today in a consultation which sets out its strategy for tackling poverty in the UK. Launching the new consultation, children’s minister Sarah Teather said the best way to eradicate child poverty is, “to address the causes of poverty, rather than only treat the symptoms. Frank Field’s independent report [...]
by Bob Holman I admire Frank Field, but I think his poverty report blames parents rather than the economic system.I met Frank when he was appointed leader of the Child Poverty Action Group in 1969. He was outstanding. With Peter Townsend, he launched a fierce attack on the Labour government for not raising family allowances [...]
Owing to a severe lack of time this morning the blog is a bit of a mish-mash, round-up of interesting things to catch my eye. The FAST is the UK Families and Schools Together programme which has just made the UN list of 24 evidence based family skills programmes in the world. The green is [...]
The Budget continues to dominate today’s news with subs at The Sun and The Mirror relishing the opportunity for catchy headlines. The Telegraph reports that Labour’s flagship pledge to halve child poverty will be missed and The Guardian: Darling’s jobs pledge for under 24s.
The number of UK children living in “severe poverty” has increased dramatically, even before the recession, and is likely to rise further, according to a Save the Children report. Measuring Severe Child Poverty in the UK found that 4 million UK children live in poverty, while 1.7 million – a depressing 13% of all UK children [...]
The Children's Services blog covers the latest news, views, gossip and analysis in children’s social care. It is aimed at professionals working with these children, young people and their families.
It is written by Community Care’s children's beat editor Camilla Pemberton.
Email: Camilla Pemberton
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