Child Poverty

The Mission and Public Affairs Division is a signatory to the End Child Poverty Coalition.

In January 2009, the Department for Children, Schools and Families issued a consultation document Ending child poverty: making it happen outlining proposals to eradicate child poverty by 2020. A copy of the response from the Mission and Public Affairs Council can be found here.

End Child Poverty March and Rally

St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey, held a service of commitment to end child poverty on Saturday 4 October 2008 in advance of a rally attended by 10,000 people calling for the Government to take urgent action.

 

The ecumenical service was organised by a coalition of Christian denominations and organisations, all members of the Campaign to End Child Poverty and was attended by hundreds of worshippers. Jane Williams, The Right Reverend Nick Baines, Bishop of Croydon, The Right Reverend Edward Holland, The Right Reverend John Hine, Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark, and The Reverend Jan Atkins, Methodist Minister took part in the service along with Bob Reitemeier, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, addressed the congregation and spoke of the urgent need to take action against the devastating poverty that affects one in three children in the UK, adding:

“Faith communities in the UK have a proud history of putting those words into action by standing by and caring for those who are confronted by deprivation and injustice. By coming here today to demonstrate against child poverty you are carrying on this tradition.”  Choirs from The Grey Coat Hospital, Westminster City School, and Maria Fidelis Convent School also sang during the service.

 

After the service the congregation joined the march from Millbank to Trafalgar Square, where 10,000 people gathered to demonstrate their support, making this the largest-ever rally to end child poverty in the UK.

 

 

In Spring 2003, the Department of Work and Pensions issued a consultation document on measuring child poverty. A copy of the response from the Board for Social Responsibility can be found here.

 

Further information and resources

Church Action on Poverty

Child Poverty Action Group

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