Children's Poverty and Deprivation

It never ceases to amaze me as to the generosity and sheer commitment of various volunteers in Cornwall.  Whilst I admire anyone who volunteers for anything I reserve special thanks to those who engage with issues, about human misery, which it is all to easy to avoid as being someone else's problem.

Today I listened to presentations from, and discussed with,  a number of individuals who provide emergency support to those who through no fault of their own find themselves without money, often standing up in the only clothes in their possession, sometimes with children in the same dreadful state.   Councillor Andrew Wallis has blogged earlier today providing the background on food banks: http://cllrandrewwallis.blogspot.com/2011/02/child-poverty-panel-and-food-banks.html

My issue is that sadness and misery of this magnitude which exists not in some far off third world country but here in Cornwall should receive far far more attention than it does.  It appears unbelievable that some children are, today, going hungry in the Duchy.  Clearly in any civilised society it is morally indefensible to allow such distress to exist.  However to tackle it requires courage, willingness and commitment to stop individuals falling through safety nets and providing them with the skills, knowledge and support to improve themselves.  The first step has to be to recognise that whilst each individual's circumstances are unique they fall under the general headings of domestic violence, illness and lack of employment.

There are considerable efforts, both locally and nationally, to understand and address the issues.  However the numbers of individuals at risk have not declined and that implies that something rather more effective has to be designed and implemented, to harness the voluntary, public and private sectors in working together.  This has to be the objective of those councillors who are currently considering children's poverty and deprivation. 

Knowing what I now know I will certainly be unable to walk past the food bank in ASDA, Penryn without making a donation.