Nursery World - Charities link up to fight poverty

Five leading children's charities have urged the Greater London Authority (GLA) to step up the fight against child poverty, to protect vulnerable children and to create more accessible and affordable childcare in the UK capital. In their Children and Young People's Manifesto released last week to coincide with the local elections today (10 June), the NSPCC, Childline, NCH, the Children's Society and Barnado's pointed out that none of the candidates for London mayor had included the protection and welfare of children and young people in London in their manifestos.

In their Children and Young People's Manifesto released last week to coincide with the local elections today (10 June), the NSPCC, Childline, NCH, the Children's Society and Barnado's pointed out that none of the candidates for London mayor had included the protection and welfare of children and young people in London in their manifestos.

They said that almost half (48 per cent) of children in inner London lived in households with incomes below the official poverty line, compared with a national average of 30 per cent and a rate in outer London of 26 per cent.

The manifesto called for a boost to family income through increases in wages, London allowances, tax credits and benefits 'to ensure that no child in London has to live below the poverty line'. It also called for extra funding to help families, particularly those on low incomes, meet the high costs of childcare in the capital. 'This should include incentives to encourage employers to provide financial assistance towards employees'

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