The Government's planned Child Poverty Bill is not enough to tackle the problem, claim children's charities. The Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, aims to end child poverty in the UK by 2020. But some children's charities have criticised the Bill as unambitious in the short term. 4Children chief executive, Anne Longfield, said: ‘The legislation will only be as effective as the commitment and activity behind it. ‘4Children would like to see robust poverty-reduction strategies in every area, bringing together help and support for families to work and train with community regeneration and comprehensive support and opportunities for children – in the early years and beyond.' And National Children's Bureau (NCB) chief executive, Paul Ennals, said: ‘Legislation is only the first step towards ensuring we meet the 2020 goal to eradicate child poverty.' The NCB is calling on the Government to launch a public-awareness campaign to ensure local communities appreciate the significance of child poverty, and its impact on the whole of society.
