OPINION ON SUNDAY: We can't turn a blind eye to child poverty

MANY people have reacted strongly to our new advertising campaign; both negatively and positively.

The campaign, with its strapline "There are no silver spoons for children born into poverty", aims to highlight the point that not all children are born with the same opportunities or aspirations for the future.

We are using these arresting images to ensure that we achieve as much awareness of the issue of child poverty as possible.

Poverty is the single biggest threat to a child's future; it may close many doors on the child's potential.

Growing up in poverty can affect every area of a child's development - social, educational and personal.

Sadly, the damaging impact of poverty is cyclical, and without help children born into poverty are more likely to suffer ill- health, be unemployed or homeless and to become involved in offending, drug and alcohol abuse and abusive relationships in adulthood.

Despite the fact that 41 per cent of children under the age of 16 in Northern Ireland live in poverty, research reveals that very few people believe that child poverty exists.

Neither do they believe that disadvantage starts at birth, or that children born into poverty are more likely to have disadvantaged adult lives.

Many of Barnardo's 37 services throughout Northern Ireland work with children, young people and their families who are affected by poverty.

We try to reduce the harmful impact of poverty through community development services, family centres and a range of services to support families in leading fuller and happier lives.

We also work alongside young people who are experiencing serious problems and whose problems began when they were born into poverty.

People living in poverty can be defined as those living on less than 60 per cent of the national median income.

However, poverty is not just about surviving on a low income, but is also about reduced expectation and opportunity in comparison to other members of society.

We know that certain groups can be more vulnerable to poverty: they include lone parents, families from minority ethnic groups, young people, care leavers, families with disabled children, and families with no adults in work.

Nearly eight in 10 children living in poverty are in families without a full-time worker.

The Government's pledge to end child poverty within a generation is a welcome step and between 1996/1997 and 2002 just over 600,000 children had been lifted over the poverty line.

Though the Government has lifted many children out of poverty, for some families this means only a few pounds extra each week rather than a real change in their quality of life.

During the devolved administration, the Executive recognised that child poverty was an issue here and had allocated a special fund to help the most disadvantaged children. However, much remains to be done. Barnardo's is calling on the Government to:

develop and publish a coherent national strategy for the eradication of child poverty by 2020: its own target date.

ensure that initiatives across all Government departments, whether mainstream or targeted, aimed at taking children out of poverty reach the most vulnerable groups of children who are persistently and severely poor throughout their childhoods, for example, disabled children, children in one parent families and black and minority ethnic children.

establish a minimum income standard, below which no family should fall whether they are in or out of work.

set up an independent commission to conduct research into what constitutes an adequate level of income so that it can make an informed decision as to the level at which a minimum income standard should be set.

reform the Social Fund so that, as well as loans grants are more readily available for poor families.

impose a statutory interest rate ceiling in the UK, in line with most other European countries, to protect the poorest families from exploitation by credit companies and loan sharks.

By supporting children's organisations like Barnardo's the public can help transform the lives of the most disadvantaged children and young people.

Our duty as Northern Ireland's largest children 's charity, is to bring the plight of the most vulnerable children and young people to the attention of all those who can do something about it - including you, the public.

Don't let poverty destroy a future. Call 0800 032 7222 or visit our website, www.barnardos.org.uk

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