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There are things in this life that I can't afford, like my children can't do some activities because I can't afford it. It is the way that I don't have options. As a mum I would like to have the best for my kids and some times I feel frustrated about that.

Woman with children

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

Campaign News

Child Poverty Divides London - 17th of Oct, 2008

Please note borough specific figures and press releases are available on request.

For more information, a copy of the report and interviews contact Liz Thorne on 020 7278 3404 or 07857 077 054 or via liz@ecpc.org.uk

More than 4 in 10 London Children are living in or on the brink of poverty – and not a single borough escapes destitution. The figures come as End Child Poverty launches its 4 in 10: The End Child Poverty London Project, a two-year London project aimed at tackling the specific challenges that London faces in ending child poverty.

Figures released demonstrate Tower Hamlets is the most deprived borough in London. There are 17 wards in Tower Hamlets where over 60% children live in families on the brink of poverty; St Dunstan’s and Stepney Green ward tops this grim league table with 3,955 children living in struggling families.

The figures also demonstrate the widening divide in London with children from the same neighbourhoods leading very different lives. Even in the most prosperous boroughs, deprivation still exists. Kensington and Chelsea is known as one of the wealthiest London boroughs but pockets of deprivation still exist. Whilst Queens Gate ward has only 8% of children living on the brink of poverty, the neighbouring ward of Golborne has 75% of children; these young people have significantly worse life chances.

With the price of living in London already at such a premium and the costs for basic necessities continuing to rise, life is even harder for those families struggling to make ends meet.

Hilary Fisher, Director End Child Poverty said: “It is ironic that London is the economic powerhouse of the UK and provides 20% of the UK’s GDP yet it is failing to provide for the hundreds of thousands of children growing up within its limits.

“Poverty blights children’s lives. In the sixth richest city in the world it is shameful that this level of destitution is allowed to continue.”

The project will focus on 10 inner London boroughs, where 1 in 2 children live in poverty, during the first year. They are Camden, Hackney, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Southwark and Westminster. This number will be extended to 20 inner and outer London boroughs in the second year of the project.

Project Coordinator Liz Thorne said “Specific problems that London faces include poor quality housing, rising unemployment, the cost and availability of childcare and the socio-demographic make-up of London’s population. Fantastic initiatives have been started to help overcome these problems but these frequently take place in isolated pockets. The 4 in 10 network, through raising awareness and pooling the wealth of expertise evident in London, will tackle both these specific challenges and the wider injustices the capital faces. There has never been a project like this before; we want everyone who works with, and who campaigns on behalf of, London children and families to get involved.

“There are 650,000 London youngsters in poverty, many living in appalling conditions – this is an unacceptable record and 4 in 10 will strive to change it.”

Ends

Notes to editors

4 in 10: The End Child Poverty London Project, funded by the City Parochial Foundation and the City Bridge Trust, is a two-year London based project coordinated by End Child Poverty. The project has two aims: the first to raise awareness of the extent of child poverty in London and increase advocacy and campaigning on the issue; the second is to identify projects and schemes that have been shown to have a positive impact on the levels of child poverty in the capital and to develop strong networks through which knowledge and expertise can be shared. Organisations across London are encouraged to join the project; membership to the 4 in 10 network is free.

For more information, a copy of the report and interviews contact Liz Thorne on 020 7278 3404 or 07857 077 054 or via liz@ecpc.org.uk.

For more information on the project visit http://www.4in10.org.uk/ Friday 17th October 2008 is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Child poverty is defined as those living below 60 per cent of median income. In this report children in or on the brink of poverty are referred to as ‘struggling’ and defined as those whose families are receiving either out of work benefits or working tax credit. More than half of this combined group are below 60 per cent median income and more than two thirds are below 70 per cent median.

The Campaign to End Child Poverty is a coalition of more than 130 organisations children's and other charities, social justice groups, faith-groups, trade unions, businesses and many others concerned about the unacceptably high levels of child poverty in the UK who are working together for change. For more information visit our website www.endchildpoverty.org.uk The comments in this release represent the views of the Campaign to End Child Poverty and do not necessarily reflect the views of member organisations.

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