Email your MP about child poverty - it takes less than two minutes

ACCORDING to a Press Association report, the number of children in families living on benefits has increased by 170,000 over the past year, with child poverty growing in affluent as well as traditionally affected areas.

The Campaign to End Child Poverty reports a "staggering" two million British children now have no parent in work.

It warned the number of children in families without jobs was rising to its highest level for a decade.

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, it was warned.

Investing £4 billion would take the Government close to its aim of halving child poverty, said the campaigners.

The report's author, social policy researcher Donald Hirsch said: "We couldn't afford to let the banks fail and now we can't afford to fail our children, our future.

"Rising unemployment has created a new poverty crisis which could leave children scarred for life and cost society some £25 billion a year. This dwarfs the investment needed to hit the target to halve child poverty by 2010."

Kate Green, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said, "This shows that more investment is needed as families feel the effects of the recession.

"The Government must provide additional financial support for families on benefits and tax credits in the Pre-Budget Report in November. We also need a wider recession recovery package that improves the Social Fund, increases childcare, helps parents to work part time without losing benefits and meets extra school costs."

* You can email your MP to ask for them to push the Government for action.

There's a link here for anyone who's interested. Thanks.

I have emailed our MP after being told by the organisers of the campaign that just 159 people had taken the time to do so.

How many votes does the X Factor get again?

Comments

[A Modern Mother]

Thanks for this, it really puts it all into perspective doesn't it?!

[Rosie Scribble]

There is much much that needs to change here, I don't see it happening any time soon but emailing our MPs has to be better than nothing. I know from bitter experience that the current system does not work. For single parents not working and in receipt of benefits, it is a very vicious circle. Work part-time and all benefits will be lost, including houseing benefit. Work full-time and childcare costs go through the roof and there is no-one there for your child at the end of the day. So stay at home with very little or go to work and still have very little. All very depressing. And there are so many people in this situation, as you say.