More Info

The flat is the biggest negative - it's too small and we're on top of each other. Not working is a problem as well. I can't change the housing situation because we don't earn enough for a motgage and we aren't priority housing candidates.

Woman with children

Invisible Islington: A report by the Cripplegate Foundation (2008)

Campaigns

Westminster Campaign

The Campaign

Over 60 Westminster third sector organisations are currently on the Westminster campaign network, with numbers constantly rising. Extensive consultation has shown that most organisations see overcrowding and housing generally to be the biggest issues faced by low income families. Our Westminster campaign is therefore focusing on housing issues, beginning with our submission to Westminster Council's Renewal Housing Strategy, which was submitted on December 14th 2009 with the formal support of 24 organisations.

Following the submission of this consultation, 4in10 is working to support a coalition of organisations to continue to influence policy and tackle the borough's housing issues.

Westminster is commonly thought of as a wealthy borough, containing many of the famous landmarks London’s tourists flock to visit, and is known for being the seat of the UK government.

The borough has much to be proud of and is achieving in the top 50% of all London boroughs on many social indicators, such as working age benefit recipiency, low pay by residency and by place of work, attainment at age 11 and premature death(1) . Although an estimated 49% of its residents live in single person households (2), in total the borough houses 31,740 children.

But despite its strengths:

• The borough is the 72nd most deprived in the UK (out of 354), with the wards Queen’s Park and Church Street ranking amongst the most deprived in the country.

• Westminster has the 14th highest level of child poverty in London, with 53% of the borough’s children growing up in struggling families

• The borough sits within the four worst of all London boroughs on issues such as people who lack but want paid work, pay inequalities and household overcrowding (3).

• The borough is the 8th most densely populated in the UK, and according to the 2006 Westminster Housing Needs Survey, 12% of households in Westminster are over-crowded (4).

• The polarity between rich and poor areas is striking. A boy growing up in Lancaster ward in Westminster can expect to live 11 years more than a boy growing up in Churchill ward (5).

Westminster council is aware of the issues the borough faces, and has taken serious steps towards reducing child poverty. The council is working towards a target for reduction of children growing up in workless households, and has recently introduced a comprehensive pilot to help parents back to work by helping subsidising childcare and housing costs, and providing advice and support.

But we believe more can and must be done.

Our Westminster Supporters

Action for Children – Brunel & Bayswater Family Centres
Al-Hasaniya
Beethoven Centre
British Black Anti Poverty Network
Catholic Children’s Society – Westminster Diocese
CHAS Central London (Catholic Housing Aid Society)
Children England
Children & Victims of Poverty
Communities Empowerment Network (CEN)
Havengrove
Homestart Westminster
Honeypot
Junior League of London
London Early Years Foundation (LEYF)
Marylebone Bangladesh Society
Migrant and Refugee Communities Fourm
Moorhouse Preschool - Westminster pre-school learning Alliance
Octavia Foundation
Queens Park Forum
Queens Park Bangladeshi Association
Queensborough Nursery
School – Home support
Somali Management Development Centre
Sure Start South Westminster
St Vincent's Family
The Abbey Centre – A Moveable Feast
The Cardinal Hume Centre
The Westminster Society for People with Learning Difficulties – The Rainbow Family Centre
Voluntary Action Westminster - VAW
Westminster Befriend a Family
Westminster Pre-School Learning Alliance
Westminster Refugee Consortium

References

1 Peter Kenway, Tom MacInnes (2009) London’s Poverty Profile, City Parochial Foundation & New Policy Instititue

2 (2008) Public Health Annual Report, Westminster Primary Care Trust

3 Peter Kenway, Tom MacInnes (2009) London’s Poverty Profile, City Parochial Foundation & New Policy Instititue

4 (2008) Public Health Annual Report, Westminster Primary Care Trust

5 (2008) Public Health Annual Report, Westminster Primary Care Trust