40th anniversary year for leading children's charity

Ten steps to a society free of child poverty
19.01.05

40 years after CPAG was founded, child poverty remains '...alive and well...'

Leading children's charity the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has today published its manifesto in which it argues that the UK is just ten steps away from a society free of child poverty.

CPAG, which was founded 40 years ago this year, is marking its anniversary by throwing down ten challenges to politicians to address poverty, which in the words of their Chief Executive Kate Green remains 'alive and well'.

'The Child Poverty Action Group was born 40 years ago out of concern and outrage,' said Kate Green. 'Though the current government has made good progress, there remains much to do. Our manifesto, just months before an expected General Election, is proposing ten reforms to eradicate child poverty. Our challenge to all political parties is to make this a reality.'

One of the key 'steps' that CPAG is pushing for is for the government to 'poverty proof policies' across Whitehall.

'Poverty is a complex, multi-faceted problem and so too are its solutions. Many government policies have the potential to impact on child poverty including education, housing, health and transport," Kate Green said. "We are calling for a poverty impact assessment to be made for every new policy. Policies not working with the grain of fighting poverty must be altered to ensure they do.'

Some of the ten steps proposed are longer-term such as that Government must work towards better jobs and not just more jobs. But the manifesto also considers more immediate concerns.

'Reforming the administration of tax credits and benefits is fundamental," Kate Green said. "Non take-up of tax credits and benefits and the often unreasonable recovery of overpaid tax credits have actually created rather than prevented hardship. Government must get the administration of tax credits right to achieve its anti-poverty targets.'

CPAG has a number of events planned for its 40th anniversary year and will be sending a copy of its manifesto to all Members of Parliament and Ministers.

Today also sees the publishing of a charter, which maps out how the next million children can be lifted out of poverty, by coalition group End Child Poverty of which CPAG is a member.

'Over 40 household names have come together under the End Child Poverty banner to develop ten policy proposals which, if implemented, would have a huge impact on the lives of the 3.6 million children in the UK living in poverty', said ECP Director Jonathan Stearn.

Download a copy of CPAG's manifesto (177 KB pdf file)

The General Election is coming!
Challenge your parliamentary candidates to endorse CPAG's manifesto to eradicate child poverty

CPAG's ten steps to a society free of child poverty are:

• All political parties to commit to eradicate child poverty.
• Poverty proof policies – make each consistent with eradicating child poverty.
• Uprate the combined value of child tax credit and child benefit at least in line with the fastest growing of prices or earnings. The element of this that is child benefit ought to be maximised.
• Increase the adult payments within income support in line with those for children.
• Reform the administration of tax credits and benefits - ensure they get the right amount, to the right people at the right time.
• Ensure all children have full access to the requirements – meals, uniforms and activities – of their education.
• Provide benefit entitlements to all UK residents equally, irrespective of immigration status.
• Work towards better jobs, not just more jobs.
• Introduce free at the point of delivery, good quality universal childcare.
• Reduce the disproportionate burden of taxation on poorer families.

For further information:
Ashley Riley
Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216
Mobile 07811 324339
e-mail ariley@cpag.org.uk