There are 700,000 children living in poverty in London and with more families being pushed into poverty through unemployment and debt so many children are not looking forward to Christmas.
Our report published this week reveals that:
Our work is focused on helping children living in poverty to overcome the many disadvantages caused by poverty. London children are much more likely to live in poor households than children in the rest of England - 37% versus 26% and are less likely to be able to afford everyday items than those elsewhere in the country. 55% of poor children in London are materially deprived compared to 44% in the rest of England. 60% of London children in low income families do not have a week's holiday away from home (londonspovertyprofile.org, 2017)
Child poverty in London is about more than income, for many children poverty can mean uncertainty, stress, hunger, loneliness, boredom, poor health and a lack of opportunities. The most disadvantaged children fall at least two years behind their peers when they come to sit their GCSE's.
About Us
The Childhood Trust is London’s child poverty charity, funding grassroots projects that support children and young people impacted by poverty. We achieve this through our fundraising campaigns, corporate volunteering programmes and advocacy on the issue of child poverty.
By bringing companies, philanthropists and other donors together we ensure that resources are directed to exactly where they are needed. Without these projects, life for many thousands of children trapped in poverty would be dramatically worse.
We work across three thematic areas, meeting children's practical needs, emotional needs and inspiring children. Support from local grassroots projects across these themes promotes well being and resilience, strengthening vulnerable children's capacity to learn. Education provides one of the strongest routes out of poverty and our support provides disadvantaged children with stability and trusted companionship, helping to raise aspirations, creating hope and narrowing the gap in educational attainment and life chances.
93,733 Children and young people, living in every borough of London, were engaged by 115 projects funded by The Childhood Trust. (July 2018 to June 2019)
In partnership with The Foundling Museum, Bedrooms of London presented a new body of work by photographer Katie Wilson highlighting the damaging consequences for children arising from the shortage of social housing in London. Focusing on the spaces in which children are sleeping, the photographs are shown alongside first-hand narratives from families collected and written by Isabella Walker, and offer a poignant insight into the lives and experiences of children living in poverty across London.
In a city where extreme poverty and wealth exist side-by-side, Bedrooms of London makes visible the often shocking and unseen reality of home life for the 700,000 children currently living below the poverty line in our capital, and challenges the prejudices and stereotypes associated with child poverty.
The Childhood Trust was supported in producing this project by award-winning social change communications firm GOOD Agency. The exhibition is now available to view digitally at bedroomsoflondon.com
(photo: Dan Weill 2019)
Join the conversation #BedroomsofLondon
Sponsored by
(Video by Shelter.org.uk courtesy of Metro.co.uk)
Play our new mini-game made by our pro-bono digital partners JBI Digital who have created this brilliant game to support our Christmas Challenge 2020 appeal.
The projects we fund operate throughout London, helping to provide vital support to children living in poverty. In addition to practical and emotional support we also help to inspire children through participation in arts, extra-curricular education and sports activities.
If you would like to support our work in alleviating child poverty in London please donate now;
To learn more about child poverty in London please read, download and share our report here:
To learn more about child food poverty in London please read, download and share our report here:
To find out more about the projects we support please click here:
After taking the Met’s Annual Christmas Tree...
Our Big GIve Christmas Challenge campaign 2020 has raised £3,060,747 for 85 London charities. This is our eighth year of running the Christmas Challenge to raise funds...