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| March urges child poverty action | March urges child poverty action |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Campaigners calling on the government to end child poverty have been staging a march through London. | Campaigners calling on the government to end child poverty have been staging a march through London. |
| "Keep the promise" has been organised by the Campaign to End Child Poverty, a coalition of 120 organisations. | "Keep the promise" has been organised by the Campaign to End Child Poverty, a coalition of 120 organisations. |
| It says the 2009 Budget is the last real chance the government has to meet its 2010 target to halve child poverty. | It says the 2009 Budget is the last real chance the government has to meet its 2010 target to halve child poverty. |
| After meeting group members, Prime Minister Gordon Brown repeated a pledge to impose a legal duty on government to eradicate child poverty by 2020. | After meeting group members, Prime Minister Gordon Brown repeated a pledge to impose a legal duty on government to eradicate child poverty by 2020. |
| The coalition's report this week said more than a third of UK children live in low-income families or families in poverty. | The coalition's report this week said more than a third of UK children live in low-income families or families in poverty. |
| It found that of the 13,233,320 children in the UK, 5,559,000 are in families that are classed as "struggling". | It found that of the 13,233,320 children in the UK, 5,559,000 are in families that are classed as "struggling". |
| The End Child Poverty campaign is backed by organisations including Barnardo's, Unicef and the NSPCC. | The End Child Poverty campaign is backed by organisations including Barnardo's, Unicef and the NSPCC. |
| According to its research, there are 4,634,000 children in England living in low income families, 297,000 in Wales, 428,000 in Scotland and 198,000 in Northern Ireland. | According to its research, there are 4,634,000 children in England living in low income families, 297,000 in Wales, 428,000 in Scotland and 198,000 in Northern Ireland. |
| Map of child poverty hotspots Campaign director Hilary Fisher said: "Poverty has an impact on every aspect of a child's life, health, education and well-being. | |
| "Now is the time for the government to turn their commitment into reality and provide that investment which will make that change." | "Now is the time for the government to turn their commitment into reality and provide that investment which will make that change." |
| After a meeting with the group, Mr Brown said he would honour the pledge. | After a meeting with the group, Mr Brown said he would honour the pledge. |
| "One of the great causes of this generation is the eradication of child poverty," he said. | "One of the great causes of this generation is the eradication of child poverty," he said. |
| "We will, in law, make it the duty of government, by 2020, to have eradicated child poverty in this country." | "We will, in law, make it the duty of government, by 2020, to have eradicated child poverty in this country." |
| The government says it has lifted 600,000 children out of poverty since 1999 but a further 2.9 million remain. | |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who was joining the rally, said the situation was "shameful". | |
| "Everyone in Britain and all political parties have a duty to do everything we can to end child poverty in Britain for good," added Mr Clegg, who wants a simplified benefits system to help families. | |
| Martin Narey, chief executive of Barnardo's and chairman of the campaign, said fulfilling the government's commitments could be Mr Brown's "greatest legacy". | Martin Narey, chief executive of Barnardo's and chairman of the campaign, said fulfilling the government's commitments could be Mr Brown's "greatest legacy". |
| But he said it would take an extra £3bn to meet its 2010 target, less than half of 1% of public expenditure. CHILD POVERTY: THE NUMBERS 13,233,320 children in the UK5,559,000 live in low-income families or those in povertyIn 174 of 646 UK constituencies, over 50% of children in poverty22% of children live in families claiming tax credit22% of children live in workless familiesWorst constituency is Birmingham Ladywood where 81% of children live in or on the brink of poverty Source: Campaign to End Child Poverty | |
| "The government has made a lot of progress but there are going to be about one million more children in poverty in 2010 than the government promised," he said. | "The government has made a lot of progress but there are going to be about one million more children in poverty in 2010 than the government promised," he said. |
| "The prime minister offered his support. We didn't get the promise of the money but we made it very plain to him he must keep his promise." | "The prime minister offered his support. We didn't get the promise of the money but we made it very plain to him he must keep his promise." |
| Hundreds of marchers, including many children, gathered at Millbank, near Lambeth Bridge, before proceeding to Trafalgar Square for a rally with speeches and entertainment. | Hundreds of marchers, including many children, gathered at Millbank, near Lambeth Bridge, before proceeding to Trafalgar Square for a rally with speeches and entertainment. |
| One Barnardo's worker said: "They need to put money into children's services and then let the professionals do the job with the resources they need." | One Barnardo's worker said: "They need to put money into children's services and then let the professionals do the job with the resources they need." |
| Another marcher added: "We see two or three generations who are in a cycle of poverty they're not able to get out of." | Another marcher added: "We see two or three generations who are in a cycle of poverty they're not able to get out of." |
| The official government measure of poverty is where a family is living on below 60% of median household income - the income midway between the highest and lowest. | |
| The Campaign to End Child Poverty defines poverty as when a family has an average of £10 per person per day to live on, or less. | The Campaign to End Child Poverty defines poverty as when a family has an average of £10 per person per day to live on, or less. |
| Are you attending the march? You can send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you attending the march? You can send us your experiences using the form below. |
| You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditionsAt no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditionsAt no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |