Commission seeks examples of successful initiatives to tackle child poverty

18 June 2006

The London Child Poverty Commission today launches a call for evidence to identify effective initiatives to tackle child poverty at local and regional level in the capital.

The Commission is seeking examples of good practice of projects and initiatives to address some of the key factors contributing to London's high levels of child poverty.

These include; problems accessing employment opportunities, limited access to affordable, good quality childcare and also, for those in employment, difficulties in making work pay due to the capital's high living costs.

The Commission's call for evidence follows the recently made commitment by John Hutton, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to put tackling child poverty at the top of his department's agenda.

The Commission is looking for initiatives that demonstrate innovation and creativity in their approach to tackling the causes of child poverty, including good examples of voluntary and community sector activity and effective partnership working between the public and private sectors.

It is particularly interested in projects that are working to improve access to employment and training opportunities, those addressing housing-related issues, projects working to improve life chances for children affected by poverty and also initiatives looking at mental health needs.

Chair of the Commission, Carey Oppenheim, said:

"The Commission is aware that a lot of good and innovative work is being carried out in London to tackle child poverty at local and regional level. These include projects to improve access to affordable, good quality childcare, to improve people's skills and also to improve access to good financial advice.

"Through this call for evidence we are hoping to uncover many more good examples. Identifying successful initiatives to address child poverty is a vital part of the Commission's work and will help it in its wider aims of developing effective solutions to reduce child poverty across the capital."

Notes to Editors

The London Child Poverty Commission - an independent body set up by the Association of London Government and Mayor of London - is monitoring progress in London against the Government's target to halve the number of children in poverty by 2010
The Commission will work to increase understanding of the causes of London's high child poverty rates and identify policies at national, regional and local levels that will help reduce them. It will also identify ways to break the cycles of deprivation through the delivery of the capital's public services
London has the highest level of child poverty in the UK both before and after housing costs. A total of 665,000 London children - 41% of all children in the capital - live below the poverty line. In inner London this rises to 53%
The deadline for submissions to the Commission is 5pm on Monday July 31. Submissions should be no longer than 500 words and should be sent to The Secretariat, London Child Poverty Commission, 59 ½ Southwark Street, London. SE1 OAL
For further information and for current examples of good practice in London to tackle child poverty go to www.londonchildpoverty.org.uk

For further media enquiries please contact Suzanne Stevenson in the ALG press office on 0207 934 9757 or at suzanne.stevenson@alg.gov.uk or Richard Brookes in the Mayor's press office on 0207 983 6550 or at richard.brookes@london.gov.uk


	Home > News > Commission seeks examples of successful initiatives to tackle child poverty
About us Child poverty facts Good practice Publications & resources News Events Links to other sites	Commission seeks examples of successful initiatives to tackle child poverty 18 June 2006 The London Child Poverty Commission today launches a call for evidence to identify effective initiatives to tackle child poverty at local and regional level in the capital. The Commission is seeking examples of good practice of projects and initiatives to address some of the key factors contributing to London's high levels of child poverty. These include; problems accessing employment opportunities, limited access to affordable, good quality childcare and also, for those in employment, difficulties in making work pay due to the capital's high living costs. The Commission's call for evidence follows the recently made commitment by John Hutton, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to put tackling child poverty at the top of his department's agenda. The Commission is looking for initiatives that demonstrate innovation and creativity in their approach to tackling the causes of child poverty, including good examples of voluntary and community sector activity and effective partnership working between the public and private sectors. It is particularly interested in projects that are working to improve access to employment and training opportunities, those addressing housing-related issues, projects working to improve life chances for children affected by poverty and also initiatives looking at mental health needs. Chair of the Commission, Carey Oppenheim, said: "The Commission is aware that a lot of good and innovative work is being carried out in London to tackle child poverty at local and regional level. These include projects to improve access to affordable, good quality childcare, to improve people's skills and also to improve access to good financial advice. "Through this call for evidence we are hoping to uncover many more good examples. Identifying successful initiatives to address child poverty is a vital part of the Commission's work and will help it in its wider aims of developing effective solutions to reduce child poverty across the capital." Notes to Editors The London Child Poverty Commission - an independent body set up by the Association of London Government and Mayor of London - is monitoring progress in London against the Government's target to halve the number of children in poverty by 2010 The Commission will work to increase understanding of the causes of London's high child poverty rates and identify policies at national, regional and local levels that will help reduce them. It will also identify ways to break the cycles of deprivation through the delivery of the capital's public services London has the highest level of child poverty in the UK both before and after housing costs. A total of 665,000 London children - 41% of all children in the capital - live below the poverty line. In inner London this rises to 53% The deadline for submissions to the Commission is 5pm on Monday July 31. Submissions should be no longer than 500 words and should be sent to The Secretariat, London Child Poverty Commission, 59 ½ Southwark Street, London. SE1 OAL For further information and for current examples of good practice in London to tackle child poverty go to www.londonchildpoverty.org.uk For further media enquiries please contact Suzanne Stevenson in the ALG press office on 0207 934 9757 or at suzanne.stevenson@alg.gov.uk or Richard Brookes in the Mayor's press office on 0207 983 6550 or at richard.brookes@london.gov.uk