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

Anita Myfanwy
24-26 High Street
Caernarfon
LL55 1RH

Tel: 01286 677570

E-mail: Anita.Myfanwy@childreninwales.org.uk

Child Poverty and Social Exclusion in Rural Wales

This new report highlights a number of ways in which children and young people who live in low-income or benefit households in rural Wales are being excluded from services that are available to their contemporaries living in urban areas.

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 32 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, Action for Children, NSPCC Cymru, ChildLine Cymru/Wales, 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. Join the End Child Poverty Network

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.

By joining the network you will receive a free monthly e-bulletin.

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.
• The Cost of Education briefing paper

Latest News

• Fuel Poverty Charter - A charter calling for fuel poverty in Wales to be eradicated has been launched by a coalition of organisations including the End Child Poverty Network Cymru.
• UK Government Budget 2009: Briefing Paper - This Briefing Paper calls on the UK Government to invest at least £3 billion on benefits and tax credits in time to reach the joint UK and Welsh Assembly Government target of halving child poverty by 2010.
• New Child Poverty Measure for Wales - The proposed Children and Families (Wales) Measure, which aims to tackle child poverty and strengthen support to families in need, has been introduced. The Measure will place a duty on Welsh Ministers to develop a new Child Poverty Strategy for Wales, which would have to be reviewed every three years. Follow the Measure's progress here.
• The Cost of Education: A Renewed Call - On the International Day for the Eradication of Child Poverty, the End Child Poverty Network Cymru coalition renews its call that the Welsh Assembly Government look into the feasibility of introducing free school meals for school all pupils across Wales.
• A new website designed to help councils and their partners develop local responses to reducing child poverty has been launched: www.childpovertysolutions.org.uk

Recent Research