The Government launched the London Child Poverty Pledge on 15 July 2008. The London Child Poverty Pledge is designed to raise awareness of the contribution people can make in their own organisations and jobs to drive action to reduce the capital's high and persistent child poverty rates. Click here to see what actions GOL has committed to take.
The need for action
A shocking 31% of children in Inner London are living in poverty. Growing up in poverty means living with disadvantage and deprivation. It damages children's experiences of childhood, and puts them at risk of poor outcomes in later life. Whilst child poverty exists, our children, our society, and our economy will not reach their full potential. See more in a video hosted by Vimeo, here.
How will the pledge help?
The pledge enables organisations to make a strong and lasting commitment to tackling child poverty by signing up to a set of actions to improve the services they provide for disadvantaged families and assessing how their own employment practices can be improved to ensure that they are family-friendly, and enable local parents to succeed in work. It is aimed at any organisation that delivers services for families in London including regional arms of delivery agencies; local authorities; children's services; health services; housing services; employment services; colleges; schools; children's centres and any other public service, social enterprises and third sector providers.
The London Child Poverty Summit
Organisations that sign up to the pledge before the end of October will be invited to join Ministers, the Mayor and Child Poverty Champions from across London at the London Child Poverty Summit on 19 November.
The Summit will be an opportunity to celebrate commitments made through the pledge. Organisations will share and learn from good practice, to support them as they move towards delivering their pledge commitments. GOL is a co sponsor of the event and will chair one of the 4 break-out sessions.
Join the UK's Biggest Event to end child poverty on October 4th in London
On October 4th End Child Poverty will be holding the biggest ever event to End Child Poverty. The purpose of this event is to raise public awareness of the extent and reality of child poverty in the UK and to demonstrate public support for the issue; they hope to attract 10,000 people to Trafalgar Square on the day. Click here to get more details.
