'Join our Hope Not Hunger campaign to end appalling levels of child poverty'

04 November 2023 , 15:54

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Denise launches Hope Not Hunger (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)

I was appalled to read that more than a million children experienced destitution last year. According to a study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, families could not afford to adequately feed, clothe or clean their children, or even keep them warm.

But while I am appalled, I hate to say I am not surprised. Last week, I was in the North East for the launch of a film called Potential, Not Poverty made by two young girls – Maddi and Staci – to prove that where you’re born should not affect your ability to reach your full potential.

I also met Stephanie, who founded the Love, Amelia baby bank and heard unthinkable stories from families in crisis. Many of them are unable to afford school shoes for their children, or even beds. There are now more food banks in this country than branches of McDonald’s – and this is becoming alarmingly normal. More must be done.

As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, the situation is only going to get worse as families cannot afford to heat their homes and keep the lights on. That’s why I have teamed up with this newspaper to launch the Hope Not Hunger campaign, which aims to put pressure on the Government to relaunch the Child Poverty Strategy and increase the level of Universal Credit.

We have more food banks than branches of McDonald's (PA)

Every day, we are waking up to hear more horror stories from Israel and Gaza and it can feel a bit overwhelming. We are all going through a global nightmare at the moment and I am sure I am not alone in feeling so helpless. By working with charities like Love, Amelia and Children North East – where I am an ambassador – I feel like I can at least do something to stop the suffering at home in some small way.

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And we can all help in our local communities, whether it’s donating or volunteering at a baby bank or food bank. There are lots of local schemes to support, too, like Manchester United’s Winter Coat Appeal, which asks fans to donate a coat before or after a game. All of these amazing organisations bridge the gap where the Government is failing abysmally in its duty of care.

Ministers are always able to find money for things that serve their interests, like refurbishing their second homes. But they take no interest in helping the vulnerable people in our society after 13 years of crippling austerity. They’ve really got no idea of how serious this problem is – and if Keir Starmer does win the next general election, he must urgently implement a Child Poverty Strategy and not just keep brushing the issue under the carpet. There is still a terrible stigma surrounding poverty and we must work to stop it. We’ve still got a long way to go.

Denise Welch