Children from the poorest family in Cheltenham are taking part in a campaign against child poverty

Children and young people from all over Cheltenham who have been identified as living in poverty will be invited to take part in a new campaign launching in Cheltenham called the ‘No Child Left Behind’ campaign. The movement strives to help the over 4300 children and young people identified as growing up in poverty and aims to raise awareness for those in these circumstances. 

These children and their families will be invited to participate in the scheme over the coming months in an attempt to save them from higher rates of exclusion, obesity, self-harm and poor education. Children growing up in poverty are also more likely to become victims of crime, something the No Child Left Behind campaign is taking a stand against.  

The aim of the campaign is to highlight the clear inequality in Cheltenham. These children in vulnerable circumstances. They are living currently struggling to have their basic needs met and are failing to receive enough help and support. The campaign collaborates with local council help effectively analyse how deeply poverty in Cheltenham is affecting young people around town and what support and help can actually be offered.  

The levels of inequality come as a shock to a town with the most expensive private school in the UK educating children likely to come from some of the richest families in the UK, Cheltenham ladies’ college, is so close to over 4300 children and teenagers still living in poverty.  

The campaign's photographer Charlotte Parnell, 20, said “I find Cheltenham to be a place of such social diversity, I believe the No Child Left Behind campaign has the ability to start tackling this issue.”  

The campaign will continue in March with its next event called ‘Confident Girls.’ Each month throughout 2019 will have its own event covering different theme such as mental health, strong relationships and eating well. Local schools and churches are also looking to get involved and support the campaign to tackle child poverty in Cheltenham one step at a time.  

Photo credit- Charlotte Parnell, photographer for the No Child Left Behind campaign Cheltenham.