15 July 08 – Ministers call for commitments to tackle child poverty in London

London’s Child Poverty Ministers Stephen Timms, Beverley Hughes and Jane Kennedy are calling today for organisations across the Capital to recognise their role in tackling child poverty and to pledge to do more.

In London child poverty has fallen by less than any other region in the UK, with inner London rates steadfast at 31 per cent - above the national average of 22 per cent.  Nationally, 600,000 children have been lifted out of poverty - but in London 400,000 children still live in poverty. 

The ‘London Pledge’, launched today, asks services that work with children and families, such as jobcentres, schools, childrens centres and other local groups to sign up to a set of specific actions to help London’s families raise their incomes and lift themselves and their children out of poverty.

Stephen Timms said:

“Child poverty is not acceptable, and it is not inevitable. We can all do more to support families experiencing hardship and break the cycle of deprivation. This is not just a job for central Government - public services, local government, charities and communities and others - must play a role. We are challenging all these partners to recognise that ending child poverty is their business, and to commit to playing their part in this historic challenge.”

Ministers see the 'London Pledge' as a vehicle to bring organisations together to commit to actions that are realistic and achievable for their particular service, including:

• Acting as exemplary employers, leading the way in family friendly working practices helping parents progress to better paid jobs
• Breaking down boundaries between different services to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, delay and frustration for parents in accessing the help they need
• Appointing a Child Poverty Champion - a senior member of staff who will ensure the organisation delivers it’s commitments
• Seeking the input of children, young people and parents to shape the services on offer

These activities are based on good practice, identified by Ministers working with experts from across London. Many organisations are already doing some very good work, and are keen to commit to the pledge.

One example is Jobcentre Plus who have been working in partnership with local authorities to give lone parents access to advice and training in children’s centres, tailored to their needs, safe in the knowledge that their children are properly cared for. 

Beverley Hughes said:

“London has a particularly high level of child poverty and a unique set of problems, which make it harder for Londoners to step out of the poverty trap. Common influences include a lower employment rate than average, particularly among lone parents, mothers in couples and disabled parents. These problems can only be tackled through a concerted effort by services in London, working together to be truly responsive to the needs of whole families.”

Ministers celebrated the launch of the ‘London Pledge’ by visiting LEAP (Local Employment Access Projects) - a London based charity that has been particularly successful in helping Londoners to improve their skills and enter sustained employment.

Jane Kennedy said:

“I am pleased to be helping to launch the pledge. We are committed to lifting the income of families with children above the poverty lines to ensure that, so far as we can, no child's opportunity is reduced by poverty. We aim to do this by 2020 and we cannot allow London to be left behind. In order to do this we need everyone to play their part and today's initiative will help to ensure that all the Government's partners are working towards this important goal.”

Organisations who want to commit to the ‘London Pledge’ should contact the Child Poverty Unit. In October, all signatories will be invited to join Ministers, the Mayor, and other London leaders to share their commitments.

Notes to Editors

1. For media enquiries, please contact Hana Esselink at the DWP Press Office 0203 267 5111 Out of hours 07659 108 88 website www.dwp.gov.uk
2. The London Child Poverty Commission recommended that Government should set explicit objectives to reduce child poverty in London. The Child Poverty Unit are working with colleagues from central, regional and local government, the LDA, London Councils and others, to develop a child poverty target in London. The target will set out the outcomes as a result of all the work being done to tackle child poverty in the capital. It will provide a benchmark against which decisions can be made, progress measured and organisations held to account.
3. In 1999, LEAP became the first European organisation to launch a major employment initiative adapted from an American model. The ‘STRIVE’ scheme tackles some of the underlying reasons (on the client side) of why people cannot find and keep work. The STRIVE Workshop has become LEAP’s flagship service and has attracted interest from practitioners from all over the UK. For further information visit the LEAP website at: www.leap.org.uk