Don’t talk, act

Published on 16/11/2012 00:00

Debating how child poverty is measured must not distract from the urgent need for action to improve the life chances of children currently growing up in families that are languishing below the breadline. We know that children growing up in low-income households are more likely to suffer from chronic ­illness, do less well in education and struggle to find work on leaving school.

Barnardo’s would urge the government to keep measuring income but also to help families now to climb their way up and out of the poverty trap by ­helping them to manage debt, understand what benefits they are entitled to and manage the impact of rising fuel prices.

Anne Marie Carrie

Barnardo’s

Corstorphine Road

Edinburgh