There are currently 4.3 million children living in poverty, which relates to a range of issues that young people face including mental health and wellbeing, education, and physical health. Families from the poorest neighbourhoods are 14 times more likely to be referred to children’s social care than those from the richest areas.

The Children’s Charities Coalition – Action for Children, Barnardo’s, The Children’s Society, National Children’s Bureau and the NSPCC – commissioned a post-election YouGov survey of over 2,000 adults, which revealed that 78% would support the introduction of an End Child Poverty Bill.

14-year-old Chan, an Action for Children Young Ambassador who delivered the petition, said:

“Children are an important part of society. We’re the hope and future of the country. But if we don’t see ourselves as a priority for those in power, then we could end up with a hopeless society. A society where young people grow up with no ambition or aspiration. Where they feel there’s nothing to look forward to.

But children like me are not always in the position to speak up easily. So, I’m asking political parties to champion the rights of all children. Children’s voices and needs must be at the beginning, middle, and end of any important decisions they make.”

This follows new figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions today which show there were 1.6 million children living in households affected by the two-child limit on benefits policy as of April this year.

The poll also showed that over 6 in 10 of those surveyed (62%) believe that more should be done to address the needs of babies, children and young people. When asked about issues impacting children:

• 81% of the public said they would support new policies that provide more early intervention services for children’s social care
• 82% of the public said they would support new policies that provide greater funding and services for children in care
• 69% of the public said they would support the creation of a Cabinet Committee specifically focused on the needs of children.

The Coalition believes the issues of child poverty are complex and cannot be tackled by individual Government departments in isolation. Instead, we need a cross-government mission, led by the Prime Minister, that tackles the issues facing babies, children and young people, and focuses on the needs of children and champions their education, health and wellbeing outcomes. This is vital for ensuring all children have access to opportunities and can grow up safer, healthier and happier.