NJPN webinar on child poverty in the UK

Brian O'Toole

On 18 September, the National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) hosted the latest in its Jubilee Year webinar series, focusing on one of the most urgent challenges of our time: child poverty in the UK. Entitled, 'Throwing Open the Doors to Children Living in Poverty in the UK,' the event brought together leading voices in the fight against inequality, offering both hard truths and practical ways forward. More than 70 people attended.

It was an evening that was not only informative but deeply moving. Participants came away with a clearer understanding of the scale of the problem and a renewed determination to speak out for justice understanding that we can make timely interventions with respect to the imminent Child Poverty Strategy by making contact with MPs.

The NJPN was honoured to welcome three powerful speakers: Liam Purcell, Chief Executive of Church Action on Poverty; Paul Morrison, Policy Advisor for the Joint Public Issues Team; and Carol Cross, Trustee of the CAUSE Foundation, which supports families in Teesside.

Together, they presented a compelling mix of evidence, lived experience, and stories of resilience. Each emphasised that poverty is not just a statistic but a daily reality for millions of children who lack secure housing, nutritious food, and fair opportunities.

Carol Cross's contributions highlighted the devastating effects of financial hardship on families in the North East, while also showing the extraordinary courage of parents determined to give their children the best possible start despite systemic barriers.

In 'Child Poverty: A Policy Choice, Not an Inevitability,' Paul Morrison delivered a clear and sobering message: child poverty is not inevitable. It stems from political and policy choices, from economic structures that prioritise some while leaving others behind, and from a society that too often ignores the voices of the most vulnerable. He challenged those present to recognise the moral responsibility we all share. Communities, churches, faith groups, and individuals must not only provide support but also advocate for fairer policies. The injustice of child poverty, he argued, is a collective problem that demands collective solutions.

In 'The Work of Church Action on Poverty,' Liam Purcell spoke about the practical work of Church Action on Poverty, an ecumenical organisation dedicated to challenging the root causes of deprivation. A key part of their mission is amplifying the voices of those who know poverty first-hand. He particularly emphasised the role of young people engaged in the Right to Food campaign. These youth ambassadors, supported by the Food Foundation's Children's Right2Food initiative, have shared their experiences of food insecurity while calling for meaningful action. Their testimonies underline the urgent need for systemic change, ensuring that no child in this country is left hungry.

A Collective Call to Action: The webinar ended with a sense of urgency and hope. Participants recognised that although the challenge is great, change is possible if we act together. Ending child poverty requires both compassion and political will, and both are within our reach if we refuse to accept injustice as normal. This is a crucial moment to raise our voices and influence decision-makers. Policies such as the two-child limit continue to push families into hardship. Scrapping this unjust policy is one of the most immediate steps we can take to improve children's lives. We urge everyone to contact their MPs and demand change. One easy way to take action is to join the End Child Poverty Coalition's email action at https://act.cpag.org.uk/page/172351/action/1

You can rewatch this important Webinar on the NJPN website. Throwing open the doors to important issues is important but the challenge now is to keep these doors open - even if we have to stick our foot in every door! This is the call of the Jubilee Year.

Brian O' Toole is Director of the Presentation Interprovincial Justice Desk.

LINKS:

Recording of the webinar: https://youtu.be/yxhW-9vhcWs

NJPN: www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/

Church Action on Poverty: www.church-poverty.org.uk

End Child Poverty: https://endchildpoverty.org.uk/