Nursery World - Opinion: In my view

Despite the achievement of the current UK Government in reducing child poverty levels during the first part of the last decade, and introducing fiscal programmes to help low-income families, child poverty levels are back on the increase.

Reduced job opportunities and increases in energy and fuel prices alongside rising everyday costs over recent months have put an additional strain on low-income families across Wales, many of whom were already struggling to provide for their children. The global recession has undoubtedly exacerbated existing problems.

In Wales, 32 per cent of children live in low-income households and the Welsh Assembly Government sees this issue as their number one priority. However, End Child Poverty Network Cymru (ECPN) recognises that it cannot act alone and will require both local and the UK Government to play a major part.

Ahead of the UK general election, therefore, ECPN released a Five Point Charter, which identifies action to tackle and reduce levels of child poverty in Wales and sets out the steps that the incoming Government will need to take to address this growing problem.

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