This page lists many of the events and activities taking place during London Challenge Poverty Week (16 – 22 October). You can also search the hashtag #LDNChallengePoverty on social media to find even more activities, ideas and campaigns which you might be interested in.
If you are holding an event or activity during the week, please email us at 4in10team@childrenengland.org.uk so we can list it here.
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Monday 16 October
BritSom is holding a series of poverty week workshops to raise awareness the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and support people facing poverty, debt, money management problems and lack of employment.
10.00 – 14.00 | The Eversfield Centre, Eversfield Gardens, London, NW7 2AE
Raising a disabled children in challenging economic times: parents supported by these organisations are travelling to Westminster to meet their constituency MPs and tell them about their experiences of raising a disabled child and/or child with special educational needs during the cost of living crisis.
This is a private event
Child Poverty Action Group & 4in10 London’s Child Poverty Network
An online event for London councillors and local leaders about children’s experiences of receiving free school meals and maximising uptake.
UBI Lab
Poverty isn’t a lack of character – it’s a lack of cash. Let’s give people Basic Income
In this session to coincide with London Challenge Poverty Week, Daniel Mermelstein, a campaigner with UBI Lab London, will introduce the concept of UBI and explain why it can be a powerful tool in the fight against poverty and inequality. He will also address some of the common objections and misconceptions around UBI.
Tuesday 17 October: United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
The London Child Poverty Summit 2023
The Childhood Trust in partnership with the London Child Poverty Alliance invite you to join them for a one-day summit, bringing together those who work with and care about London’s disadvantaged children and young people.
ATD Fourth World UK: The Power of Creativity – an art exhibition by people living in poverty
ATD UK would like you to join them for an afternoon of inspiration, showcasing the creativity and art produced by people living in poverty.
17:00 – 20:00 | Amnesty International, 25 New Inn Yard London EC2A 3EA
Challenge LDN: Community Collaboration on Poverty
How can we engage, energise and encourage communities and collaboration? The Mayor’s Poverty Prevention Challenge, in association with Allia Impact, present innovative solutions helping those on the cusp of, and at risk of falling into poverty.
10.00 – 13.00 | Toynbee Hall
Gingerbread – Fighting poverty in London: an open discussion with single parents
Focused on centring the lived experiences of single parents in London living in poverty, this event will invite keynote listeners from the policy making world, to listen to single parents’ challenges and proposed solutions to a range of issues centred around housing, social security, stigma and discrimination and inequality.
Closed event
Restorative Justice 4 All – Speak Up!
A community consultation event giving people a chance to share their thoughts, concerns, and hopes for SE16.
Just Fair: Human Rights: Not a Game launch
Just Fair will be launching our new card game ‘Human Rights: Not a Game’ at ATD’s ‘Power of Creativity’ event, hosted by Amnesty International UK.
17.00pm – 20.00pm |
Amnesty International UK, 25 New Inn Yard London EC2A 3EA
Islington: Community Clothes Swap
Islington Council has arranged a clothes swap. They have asked residents to drop their unwanted clothes, shoes and hats throughout September and are encouraging people to pick up some preloved clothes on the 17th.
11.00am – 15.00pm | Vibast Community Centre, EC1V 9NH
Wednesday 18 October
United Impact
United Impact United Impact is a group of people supported by Project 17, with lived experience of the devastating ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) policy and the hostile immigration environment in the UK. The group invite you to the screening of a film based on true life stories of families affected by the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) policy: “A Voice for The Voiceless – Echoes of Our Pain”.
Britsom
BritSom is holding a series of poverty week workshops to raise awareness the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and support people facing poverty, debt, money management problems and lack of employment.
10:00 – 14:00 | The Eversfield Centre, Eversfield Gardens, London, NW7 2AE
Grow Your Own
Join the Grow Your Own oral history project to explore archives of childcare history. Find out how Newham’s first children’s centre began and what it did, how a group of parents came together to run a nursery in Walthamstow and more about what was achieved when people campaigned for better childcare in the 1970s and 1980s.
18:30 – 20:30
13:00 – 15:30 | Jean Stokes Community Centre, N1 0DX, near Caledonian Road
Thursday 19 October
London Assembly Cost of Living Working Group
The London Assembly’s Cost of Living Working Group is holding a conference to hear from Londoners and the organisations supporting them about the real-life impacts of the cost of living crisis, to assess action being taken and to identify further steps that will make a difference to Londoners. The conference is organised in partnership with the Policy Institute (KCL), Citizens Advice London, Thrive LDN and Centre for London.
Croydon Drop In
The official launch of the Croydon Drop In new Talkbus.
15.30 | Outside McDonald’s, North End, Croydon, CR0 1UJ
Lewisham Public Health and Lewisham Local – Lewisham Food Justice Alliance and Food Justice Action Plan update
Marking London Challenge Poverty Week, Lewisham Public Health and Lewisham Local are warmly inviting partners who would like to support the delivery of Lewisham’s Food Justice Action Plan to attend the launch event for the new Lewisham Food Justice Alliance.
12.00 -14.00 | Salvation Army, 23-25 Brownhill Road London SE6 2HE
Sutton Anti-Poverty Forum
A meeting of the anti-poverty forum to discuss what is being done in the capital to address poverty and to help expand membership of the Forum. A speaker from 4in10 will be addressing the meeting.
16.00 -17.00 | Online
The Autism Project
A parent/carers evening, talking about available cost of living support for families.
Parents will have the opportunity to network and eat an evening buffet.
17.00 -19.30 | Closed Event
Friday 20 October
On the Record/Grow Your Own – Exploring breastfeeding support in the East End
A webinar focusing on breastfeeding support in Tower Hamlets, whilst exploring library and archive local history collections.
On the Record/Grow Your Own – Isolation and Families with SEND
Are you a family with SEND? Come to a meet-up hosted by The 5es Development, Space4ME and Food4ME.
12:00- 14:00 | St Marks Community Centre, 218 Tollgate Road, Beckton E6 5YA
Saturday 21 October
Bin Knives Save Lives
Bin Knives Save Lives will have a stall outside Ilford Town Hall. This will focus on raising awareness of the availability of bleed kits in Redbridge and the local press will be interviewing members of the public about their experiences of challenges from the cost of living crisis and how they feel poverty affects crime rates.
14:00- 15:00 | Ilford Town Hall
Support for New Life
Support for New Life are running a Financial Literacy Workshop. This will include:
- welfare/benefits advice
- budgeting
- energy saving tips
- debit management
- saving money on healthy foods
11:00- 14:00 | Carramea Community Centre, 27 Northolt Road, HA2 0LH
Monday 23 October
ESDEG: Challenge Child Poverty Event
ESDEG are organising a Mid-Term Fun day for the local children of Northolt, followed by a short meet and greet session and then an hour’s round table discussion on the various issues affecting children living in poverty, how it impacts the grassroots communities in Ealing and the way forward, followed by refreshments and networking.
Healthy Minds: How to deal with exercise nutrition & health on low income in Islington
A fun, free lunch buffet and drinks with tons of info on free help available.
11.00-14.30 | Sotheby Mews Day, Centre, Sotheby Mews Day Centre, N5
Events taking place across the week
Give Help Share
Give Help Share will be working within a school providing food parcels and teaching children to become ‘food change champions’ helping their parents to cook low cost foods.
9.30am- 5pm Monday – Thursday |
Southall Community Alliance
Southall Community Alliance have arranged a series of awareness raising seminars and networking events for each day of the week at Southall Town Hall. Also at their new site – Western Road Urban Garden project, they have invited school pupils to learn how growing their own fruit and veg can be beneficial for them and their family’s health and wellbeing as well as tackling food poverty.
Commonside Community Development Trust
Commonside Community Development Trust in Merton are running daily ‘top tips to challenge poverty’ sessions in their community café.
Shelter London
Shelter London are holding a series of outreaches and workshops across the week. These aim to empower and educate, whilst also providing advice and assistance where housing has been affected by poverty and affordability.
Westminster – Outreaches at the Foodbanks and CAB Advice Shops
Islington – Workshop on Cost of Living and Disrepair
Southwark – Presentation on affordable and secure housing
Newham- Outreach at the Magpie Project. Online pre-application session for people with lived experience interested in applying for the Newham GROW traineeship.
Other organisations participating in London Challenge Poverty Week
Empathy Souls
Empathy Souls will be releasing a new podcast series focusing on child poverty:
Age UK
Age UK will release their second annual poverty report looking at poverty and the over 50s in London. The report has latest data and recommendations for decision makers.
Junior League of London
The LBDI campaign run by the Junior League of London, is a social media-driven advocacy and fundraising campaign, a platform for its members to raise awareness about poverty in London and raise funds for our work to fight it. They will also be wrapping up LBDI with a free poverty awareness session on Monday 30 October to explore research on poverty in London, hear from charity leaders , and collaborate for positive change. More information can be found here and bookings here.
