12 June 2009

UK Government to Keep Promise to End Child Poverty by 2020

The Junior League of London (JLL) is pleased to see today’s bill enshrining the government’s commitment to its pledge to end child poverty in the UK by 2020.

4 million children – one in three – are currently living in poverty in the UK, one of the highest rates in the industrialised world. This is a shocking figure given the wealth of our nation.  Within London, the figure rises to 4 in 10, and inner London boroughs, over half of children live in poverty.  For a city that ranks 6th globally in terms of overall wealth and generates 20% of the UK’s GDP, this is unacceptable.  The JLL is pleased to see the government honouring its commitment to its most vulnerable citizens.

Commenting on today’s bill, JLL President Sara Niedringhaus noted:
““The Campaign to End Child Poverty welcomes the Child Poverty Bill as an important step forward in making tackling child poverty a priority for all Governments – ending child poverty is not a luxury, but a necessity. It will be particularly important to be clear how Government will be held to account in the legislation. As a member of the Campaign we believe the first step to tackling child poverty in the future is tackling it today. We need to see urgent action to help hard pressed families now as well as a strong bill which carries forward that action into the future.”

About the Junior League of London

The Junior League of London is a UK registered charity comprised of women committed to promoting voluntary service, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. A member of the Association of Junior Leagues International and active in London since 1978, the JLL has over 400 volunteer members who provide more than 20,000 hours of service to the community each year through dedicated programmes that break the cycle of poverty through education and employment. The JLL raises funds through an annual Christmas fair Boutique de Noel (12-13 November 2008), a book for recent arrivals to the capital called Living in London, a week-long shopping event in the Spring (4-28 March 2010) called London Spree, corporate giving, grants, donations, annual fund and members’ dues.

To learn more about the Junior League and its community projects, to buy tickets to Boutique de Noel in 2009 or a 2010 London Spree Card, to purchase a copy of Living in London, or to find out about the JLL’s next New Members’ Course for volunteers – visit www.jll.org.uk or phone the Junior League office on 020 7499 8159.

Registered Charity Number: 1103298   Registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee in England No 5045667

About The Campaign to End Child Poverty

The Campaign to End Child Poverty is the UK’s largest coalition of children’s charities and other organisations, comprising more than 150 organisations working to eradicate child poverty in the UK. It is formed from children’s and other charities, social justice groups, faith-groups, trade unions and others concerned about the unacceptably high levels of child poverty in the UK. For more information, visit www.endchildpoverty.org.uk.