The UK is the fourth largest economy in the world but conversely has one of the highest levels of child poverty of all industrialised countries. Recent figures show that 27 per cent of children in Wales are living in poverty, higher than the British average.

The End Child Poverty Network Cymru is a coalition of concern focused on child poverty whose Steering Group Members include Barnardo’s Cymru, Children in Wales, Save the Children Cymru, NCH Cymru, NSPCC Cymru, ChildLine Cymru/Wales, Communities that Care, Child Poverty Action Group, National Public Health Service for Wales, Fairbridge Cymru, Citizens Advice Cymru, the Frank Buttle Trust, Shelter Cymru, and the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales.

We also have a growing number of Supporter Members who support our vision that no child in Wales should be living in poverty by 2020. These members come from a broad cross-section of the public, private and voluntary sectors.

The Network was set up in November 2001 and works to achieve:

• Increased public and professional understanding of child poverty in Wales
• Public and professional support for measures to end child poverty
• Policies in place at all levels of government which contribute to ending child poverty in Wales.

Our achievements:

• Successfully lobbied the Welsh Assembly Government for a child poverty strategy in Wales
• Lobbied for and participated in the Child Poverty Task Group
• Gave evidence to Welsh Affairs Select Committee inquiry on child poverty
• Responses to Welsh Assembly and UK Government consultations
• Briefing paper on child poverty and briefings on the Child Poverty Task Group report for the Assembly subject Committees
• Publication & dissemination of "Tackling Child Poverty in Wales - a Good Practice Guide for Schools", a report developed to raise awareness of the relationship between poverty and educational outcomes and attainment levels for children in schools.

News

• Child Poverty in the UK: A National Disgrace? a series of seminars at Monmouth Priory
• National Assembly Elections May 2007 - NGO Manifesto on Child Poverty
• Funding for Child Poverty Projects, March 2007
• UN Eradication of Poverty Day, 17 October 2006 - Cost of Education - Parents living on low incomes in Wales are struggling to meet increasing and diverse "hidden" costs of sending their children to school.
• Child Poverty Matters event in Westminster, August 2006
• Child Poverty in Wales - much work to be done Conference Report, August 2006
• Unequal Choices, April 2006, - events staged in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Liverpool and Sheffield.

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For more information on the End Child Poverty Network Cymru, please contact:

Anita Myfanwy
24-26 High Street
Caernarfon
LL55 1RH

Tel: 01286 677570