By Paul McGill from NICVA
Published on 08 Aug 2007
As the latest statistics suggest that child poverty in Northern Ireland is worse than previously thought, Save the Children is stepping up its public campaign on the issue.
In June Save the Children launched a public campaign at Stormont when primary and secondary pupils handed over ‘campaign cards’ to the First and Deputy First Minister. Since then it has recruited and trained student campaigners to attend events over the summer to ask people to sign up in support.
So far it has attended the Milk Cup, Children in Crossfire conference, Ulster American Folk Park and West Belfast Festival and found people to be very open and interested in backing the campaign.
What does the campaign entail?
There is no request for money, only addresses and signatures to persuade the Executive and MLAs to prioritise the ending of child poverty in the Programme for Government and the Comprehensive Spending Review. It is a critical time because decisions will be made by September, so public participation can make a real difference.
Why is the campaign happening now?
Save the Children is worried by new statistics from the Department for Social Development (Households Below Average Income 2005-06) showing that there are more children in poverty than previously recorded.
Last year’s report suggested that 24% of children were living in poverty, which is equivalent to 100,000; the 2005-6 report suggests that this figure is more accurately 29% or 120,000 children.
Alex Tennant from Save the Children said:
"The estimate of 100,000 children in poverty in Northern Ireland was a matter of grave concern, requiring urgent action.
"To hear that a more accurate figure is 120,000 children experiencing poverty is deeply shocking and should act as a spur to our politicians to prioritise action on child poverty."
What can I do to help?
Save the Children is asking everyone in Northern Ireland to act as champions for children in poverty. It wants as many people as possible to ring 028 9043 1123 and get campaign cards sent out to them.
People can also write to:
Save the Children
15 Richmond Park
Belfast BT10 0HB
e: infoni@savethechildren.org.uk
w: www.savethechildren.org.uk
Work colleagues, family and friends can fill them in and post them back, using the freepost address. Save the Children will forward the cards on to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and to the relevant MLAs.
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