BBC documentary - Poor Kids

Documentary telling the stories of some of the 3.5 million children living in poverty in the UK. It is one of the worst child poverty rates in the industrialised world, and successive governments continue to struggle to bring it into line. So who are these children, and where are they living? Under-represented, under-nourished and often under the radar, 3.5 million children should be given a voice. And this powerful film does just that.

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BN7ml6b-e4

Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bxYeyq0xq4

Child poverty down as household income drops

The number of children living in poverty in the UK fell by 300,000 last year as household incomes dropped, official figures have revealed.

In 2010-11, 18% of children (2.3 million) lived in households classed as below the poverty line - a 2% drop. This was because the measure is based on median incomes which also went down.

A child is considered to be living in poverty if their household income is less than 60% of averages wages. Last year that figure equated to £251 per week, which meant 2.3 million children were living in poverty.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18436795

A special Inside Out report on child poverty in the North West where life expectancy for children can be up to 15 years lower than in other parts of the country.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01p2pqj/Inside_Out_North_West_26_11_2012/

Child poverty: Definition could include family breakdown

Family breakdown, drug addiction, debt and education results are among the factors that could be used to measure child poverty in future, ministers say.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith says this income-based method of measuring poverty is too simple.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20334619

Poor kids documentary

3.5 million kids live in poverty in the UK. Poor Kids gives 4 of those children the chance to tell us what that really means. In turns funny, tragic, moving and enchanting. Courtney (8), Paige (10), Sam (11) and Kayleigh (16) are breathtakingly honest and eloquent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIKFN6wfVvg

How do you tackle child poverty?

Radio 4 programme - The Organisation for Economic Development has produced a report saying progress towards ending child poverty has stalled.

Home affairs editor Mark Easton outlines the research. Gavin Poole from the Centre for Social Justice think tank, and Polly Toynbee of The Guardian examine the issue.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9469000/9469966.stm

The child poverty target

Gordon Brown has said the promise to end child poverty by 2020 will be made legally binding. Lisa Harker, of the Institute for Public Policy Research, and Chris Grayling, shadow work and pensions secretary, discuss figures suggesting that interim targets will be missed by big margins.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7764000/7764218.stm

More UK children live in poverty

Figures showing a 200,000 rise in UK children living in relative poverty last year have been described as a "moral disgrace" by Barnardo's.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6497981.stm