A 2020 Vision - Ending Child Poverty in Northern Ireland

Tuesday 08 January 08

In 1999, the Prime Minister made a commitment to end child poverty in the UK by 2020. By 2006 the government had succeeded by getting 700 000 children out of poverty but there are today still 3,4 million children living in poverty.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE IN POVERTY?
Poverty is a complex issue and beside not having enough money to pay bills,clothes and food, children living in poverty will most likely get fewer
qualifications, have lower-paid jobs later in life, have more health problems and die younger. If we don't get children out of poverty it is not unlikely
that their children again will also live in poverty, and that makes it even more important to end child poverty now.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY
- Children who live in London, Wales or Northern Ireland
- Those with parents out of work
- Children whose parents have low educational attainment
- Those living in rented accomodation
- Children whose parent have no savings/assets
- Children in large families of four or more children
- Children from ethnic minority groups espescially of Asian origin.
- Children in families with disabeled adult(s).

If you want more statistics about poverty in the UK keep on reading here

Read more about Save the Childrens reports on child poverty here

What do you think has to be done to end child poverty in the UK by 2020?
Use our discussion forum!