Child Poverty
08 June 2011 by Paul Rhoades
In March Visit Scunthorpe ran an article about Child Poverty in North Lincolnshire stating that there are around 4,000 children in North Lincolnshire who are growing up in what Save The Children define as poverty.
Last night the BBC showed a documentary called "Poor Kids" which gave an insight to the reality of children living in poverty in Britain today.
It was utterly shocking to see that in a modern, affluent society, people have to raise families in such squalid and poor conditions, trapped in a spiral of social decline.
The program throughout focused on the thoughts and opinions of the children involved, giving their views more so than those of the adults. Each child spoke more eloquently and passionately about the situation they were in than I have ever heard any politician from any party speak.
This documentary, (watched on my big screen TV, in the comfort of my living room, eating take-away Chinese) showed horrifically the underclass that our society has created, hidden away from the public eye, muted, without a voice, and illustrated a massive class divide which exists between rich and poor across the country.
The documentary carried more impact that a thousand blog entries or reports by Save the Children could ever do, and gave a sense of realisation as to just how twisted the social and economic hierarchy is that we live in today.
The whole program was watched in silence, with a look of shock and revulsion on both mine and Julie's faces as to how this could be allowed to happen to any one in a country such as ours.
What was also clear from the documentary that under the government's current economic policy, forecasters are estimating that child poverty will continue to rise over the foreseeable future in the UK in the region of 10%.
This is a real and shocking issue which every one should be aware of but wrapped up warm at home with comfort food and televisions sadly is not. The only conclusion I could draw from watching the program is that a system which creates this as one of its outputs is fundamentally and irrationally flawed.
This is why I think it is an absolute top priority that every one should make a stand against the governments twisted and illogical policy of cuts. Last night's documentary showed how unemployment, a lack of affordable housing and cutting services leads to a downward spiral of economic depression. The result of this ultimately leading to generations of people living in squaller and being out of work.
We can look to our political leaders to introduce legislation such as the Child Poverty Act, but without the willingness of government to support this financially, and with more regard being given to bankers and tax dodgers, its clear that the political classes have an agenda which whole heartedly supports the banks and commerce, at the expense of the unnoticed.
There will be a public meeting to discuss alternatives to the government's cuts held on the 24th June at the Central Community Centre in Laneham street Scunthorpe, organised by the Coalition of Resistance.
Watch the documentary on the iPlayer, and then decide for your self if you believe child poverty is something you support or oppose.
If you want to see this end, come to the meeting on the 24th and find out more about the real alternatives that exist to the government's cuts which will categorically force more families to suffer in conditions such as these, just so we can maintain the country's credit rating:
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