Our Vision

- To end the outrage of child poverty

In response to the 2005 worldwide consultation with 4000 children and their carers in 19 countries the Grow Up Free From Poverty Coalition embarked on a campaign to draw attention to the contribution social protection measures, specifically cash transfers, can make to ending child poverty.

The coalition follows a rights-based approach and believes that now is the time to refresh the vision of a world in which all citizens are entitled to be protected by right from desperate poverty and destitution.  With overwhelming evidence, a case is made that the potential impact of a minimum package of cash transfers is significant in achieving children’s rights; women’s rights, and the rights of older and disabled people. An affordable package of measures, well-designed and effectively implemented, can contribute to both poverty reduction and social equity.

The Grow Up Free from Poverty Coalition, currently made up of 24 NGOs, faith groups and civil society organizations with a commitment to children’s rights and development, came together informally before the Westminster Conference of February 2001, a major international event on tackling child poverty worldwide, hosted by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown and the Secretary of State for Development, Clare Short.

This group, based in the UK, but with partners all around the world emphasizes a comprehensive approach to child poverty that must be embraced if the international community is to fulfil its commitments. A strength of the coalition is its broad membership, which includes large and small development NGOs, young people’s organisations, organisations committed to older and disabled people’s rights, and diverse faith groups.