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Community Links children hand in End Child Poverty petitions
16 Mar 2009
Courtney, David and Daniel deliver the End Child Poverty petition to No. 10 Downing Street
It’s the tenth anniversary of the Labour Government’s pledge to end child poverty in a generation. Community Links are proud members of the Campaign to End Child Poverty: three young people, Courtney, David and Daniel from our Arc in the Park open access childcare project went to Downing Street to ask the Prime Minster: “Will you keep your promise Gordon, and improve the lives of millions of UK children living in poverty today?”
As the recession bites, an investment of at least £3 billion would provide a vital timely and targeted injection for families in our poorest communities who are hardest hit. Without this £3bn in the forthcoming budget the Government will be 700,000 children short of its target to halve child poverty by 2010.
It is timely that on the tenth anniversary of the historic promise by this government to end child poverty the latest unemployment figures are released today. As unemployment rises, more and more people are becoming dependant on benefits to support them through the recession. However the current welfare system is not equipped to provide the right support and will ultimately trap thousands more on benefits. The rigid nature of the outdated system does not reflect modern day employment. Jobs advertised at the Jobcentre are temporary, part time, weekend work and often pay on commission.