Breslin Public Policy release new paper on child poverty
We are pleased to announce the publication of our new paper, A Series of Doors: young people talking about the experience of poverty, based on work originally undertaken for the Office of the Children's Commissioner, as part of their response to the government consultation on child poverty conducted earlier this year.
We reproduce the News Release that we have just issued and commend the views of the young people to all with an interest in this area.
News release
For Immediate Release: 16 July 2013
New publication
“A Series of Doors”
Young people talking
about the experience of poverty
Poverty is like a
series of doors. One door is being poor, another door is being autistic, another
door is being a young carer; another door is living in a bad area… The more
doors there are, the more keys are needed to open them and people don’t care
enough to make the effort to open them all
As this comment demonstrates, children and young people
who experience poverty can be highly articulate and
insightful about their lives, but their voices are too seldom heard, especially
by those in power. At the invitation of
the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, we brought a group of these young
people together in Westminster to help inform policy. In this paper their
voices are given prominence. They reflect on the issues that matter to them: Money, Access to services,
Education, Employment, Community and home life, Aspirations, Access to
transport, Networks.
Dr. Maggie Atkinson, Children’s Commissioner for England,
said:
Under the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child, every child and young person has the right to express his
or her views, and to have those views heard and taken seriously. That right is hugely
important for those who live in poverty and on the margins of society. This
document provides a powerful example of the fundamental and essential job of
amplifying their voices
Dr Tony Breslin,
Director of Breslin Public Policy, said:
The voices of children and young people
continue to be excluded from debate about their experience. Much of the
literature on child and family poverty is pertinent and incisive, but
comparatively little of it presents the voices of first hand experience
These young people were thoughtful,
articulate, provocative and insightful. They contributed their views in an
inspiringly positive and participative spirit, and it was a privilege to work
with them. Their energy and honesty deserves close and sincere support from all
who have the power to help make a difference to their lives
Kate Green, Chair of
the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty, said:
This paper is a wake-up call to all of us
charged with the responsibility of addressing the challenges of poverty as
experienced by children and young people. Too often, we conduct an
adult-to-adult debate that ignores where poverty hits hardest - on children and
young people
The
paper, and the associated report to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner,
can be accessed through the links in the Endnotes below.
Contacts
Tony Breslin, Breslin Public Policy: 07973 885 915; tony.breslin@breslinpublicpolicy.com
Kevin Harris, Breslin Public Policy: 0773 042 9993; kevin.harris@breslinpublicpolicy.com
We will be pleased to arrange access to young people who
participated in the event and are prepared to speak about their experience of
poverty.
[2] A Series of Doors is based on an event held in February 2013
organised by Breslin Public Policy for the Office of the Children’s
Commissioner. It uses direct quotations from the children and young people
recorded on the day, together with some comments from supporting adults who
accompanied them, and written contributions made by the participants during a
specially designed workshop activity on the day.
[3] The report produced by Breslin Public Policy for
the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, Young
People Talking About Poverty, is available at:
This is great!
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