Policy & Practice: Policy into Practice - Why it is vital to tackleour own child poverty

With 3.5m children living in poverty, it is recognised as the biggestsingle threat to our children's wellbeing. But eradicating it is stillone of the Government's largest challenges and least-promotedpolicies.

Statistics show that 700,000 children have been lifted out of povertysince the original pledge in 1999. But this complex issue is not focusedon, precisely because of its complexity. It needs to be tackled moreforcefully if we are to reach the target of eradicating poverty by2010.

Poverty in the UK cannot be compared with that in the developing world,but we need to understand that some families don't have the lifestylemany of us take for granted. Poverty strips families of their dignityand self-esteem. One in three poor children do not have three meals aday, don't enjoy toys, school trips and out-of-school activities andoften lack clothing such as shoes and winter coats.