The Campaign Company devised and implemented a residential consultation event on behalf of the Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to consult with young people and youth workers from deprived communities across on the issue of Child Poverty. The event brought together 25 young people aged between 13-16 from deprived areas across England , Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland .

The young people who took part came to Westminster to act as ambassadors for their neighbourhoods and told the Government their views about what it is like to live and grow up in their area and what they thought should be done to improve opportunities for young people where they live, and achieve the Government’s ambitious target of eradicating Child Poverty by 2020. Activities that took place over the two days included:

• Bridging the Poverty Gap – this culminated with the bridge showing the steps needed to get from 2006 (pillar showing child poverty today) to 2020 (pillar showing no child poverty) being built beside the House of Commons.
• Young People’s Select Committee on Child Poverty Matters – a mock select committee where young people put expert witnesses Collette Marshall (Save the Children), Kate Green (Child Poverty Action Group), Lisa Harker (independent adviser on child poverty); Jim Murphy (Minister for Employmernt & Welfare Reform), Julia Sweeney (Head of Family, Poverty & Work Division, DWP) in the hot-seat.
• Videoqube – where the questions asked to young people were: “what one thing would make the lives of poor families and children in your area better?”; “why do you think that Child Poverty Matters?” ;“what one thing can the Government do today to help you get a job in the future?”.

Floella Benjamin was also a guest speaker who provided an inspirational talk based on her experiences of growing in poverty and sharing how the first step to overcoming adversity is to develop confidence, self respect and a sense of purpose.

A report of the event and its conclusions was compiled in both written and DVD format, and presented to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

© The Campaign Company •third floor, suffolk house • george street • croydon • cr0 1pe