Fighting poverty - Improve the benefits now

AS the pay talks battle lines are drawn and unemployment figures climb with unnerving speed soaring back-to-school costs are putting pressure on strained family budgets.

The children’s charity Barnardos warned yesterday that the inadequacies of the Government Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme is forcing some vulnerable families into debt. It has been long recognised that education is the best way to end poverty and anybody prepared to make the effort should be supported in every way.

Providing a basic education for a child should not put a family in debt and the benefits available under the scheme should be improved to take account of the changing economic circumstances. Despite our difficulties we must find a way to keep education within everybody’s reach. Nobody should have to borrow money to send a child to primary or secondary school.