Reuse Network joins coalition to campaign for an end to child poverty

Reuse Network is delighted to announce it has joined the End Child Poverty coalition, an important alliance committed to tackling child poverty and its underlying causes.  

As a charity dedicated to promoting reuse and tackling poverty, we recognise the crucial role that child poverty alleviation plays in creating a sustainable and inclusive society for all. By partnering with End Child Poverty, we aim to contribute our expertise in supporting families and children in need and working towards a future where no child experiences the burden of poverty. Reuse Network is looking forward to collaborating with fellow members of the coalition to make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable children across our communities. 

Every day End Child Poverty members see the real impacts that poverty has on the daily lives of children. 

• Government data shows 3.9 million children living in poverty (after housing costs) between April 2020 and April 2021, that is 27% of all children 

• Nearly half of children in lone-parent families live in poverty, compared with 1 in 4 of those in families with two parents[1] 
• The child poverty rate for children in families with three or more children is almost twice as high as the rate for children in one- or two-child families (47% compared with 24%)[2] 
• 36% of children in poverty live in families with a youngest child aged under five, 28% in families with a child aged between five and ten, 26% in families where the youngest child is aged 11 to 15, and 25% in families where the youngest child is 16 to 18 years old[3] 
• Poverty puts pressure on struggling families, and undermines their ability to cope – research shows that in England, children in the most deprived decile were around 13 times more likely to be on a Child Protection Plan and over 10 times more likely to be looked after than a child in the least deprived decile[4] 
• Deaths during infancy are strongly associated with preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and congenital abnormalities, which disproportionately affect the most disadvantaged families in society. The risk of infant death increases with greater levels of maternal deprivation[5] 

• Children in Bangladeshi and Pakistani households were the most likely to live in low income and material deprivation out of all ethnic groups[6] 

Reuse charities across the country play a significant role in addressing child poverty by providing essential furniture and household items to families in need. Their efforts help ensure that children from low-income families have the opportunity to grow and thrive in safe, comfortable and sustainable homes. 

Speaking on the partnership, Craig Anderson, CEO of Reuse Network said, “By joining the End Child Poverty coalition, we have a powerful opportunity to combine our efforts and resources in the fight against child poverty. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our collective pursuit of a more equitable and compassionate society.”