Let’s Push Back On Poverty For Our People And Our Planet

Let’s Push Back On Poverty For Our People And Our Planet

Written by CEO of Faith in Families Cherrie Bija.

Some days I have to pinch myself, who would have thought the little council house girl who left school with only a handful of GCSE’s would be speaking at an event in Marlborough House?  In the audience of over 120 there are former Prime Ministers, Dame’s, Baroness’s, High Commissioners, Commonwealth Officers, CEO’s of large corporations, media companies, founders of charitable organisations, Execs and Chairmen of Global businesses, not to mention there is an actor and a comedian in the ‘Thick of it”. All brought together by my new friend and trailblazer the Rt Hon Gordon Brown.

Faith in Families has been running Wales Multibank Cwtch Mawr now for over 6 months, and in that time, we have already doubled the impact that we had hoped to achieve within the first year. Supporting over 86,000 individuals with millions of pounds worth of essential goods, brand new items that will help alleviate the consequences of poverty. Items that are donated and surplus to requirements that might have just been left weighing down our planet.

I am here to share my experience of not only growing up in poverty and breaking through, but also of volunteering and working in these communities for over 30 years, the last 17 leading Faith in Families, a great little charity that has recently been said to “punch way above its weight”, delivering preventative services that are right at the heart of our communities.

Tom’s story is a stark reminder of the daily struggles faced by countless children. His plight underscores the urgent need for our support.

During this time, I have witnessed first-hand the heartbreak and hopelessness that poverty can bring.  The sadness and anger that surrounds those that are caught in this trap and the financial consequences to society if we do not tackle this problem.

In over 30 years of working in the children’s charity sector, there are hundreds of children I could talk about, but I take a moment to share Tom’s story.

Tom wakes up cold most mornings. There’s no quilt in his cover, no carpet on the floor. His body aches from the chill. He goes downstairs to find the cupboards nearly bare, again. He grabs a bowl of cereal and moistens it with water because there’s no milk.

Tom puts on a school uniform that’s not only second-hand but also not clean because the washing machine can only be used once a week. He feels sad and embarrassed. He hasn’t had a shower for three days now, and there’s no toothpaste to brush his teeth. He squeezes his feet into ill-fitting shoes and runs to school, curling his toes, with a coat that’s too small. He feels uncomfortable and self-conscious.

At school, he devours the toast at breakfast club and longs for lunch. His stomach aches with hunger. In the yard, Tom is never picked for games because he’s never practiced, and he doesn’t have the kit. He feels excluded and invisible. No one sits next to Tom because he smells, and the kids make sure he knows it. He feels lonely and rejected.

Tom gets told off by his teacher because he couldn’t concentrate enough to do his homework last night. There is no table or Wi-Fi at home. He feels life is unfair and overwhelming. When other kids bully Tom, he loses his temper and shouts back, kicking a chair, which sends him to the headteacher’s office. He feels angry and misunderstood. The assistant in the yard whispers that he is always trouble. He feels confused and hurt.

The headteacher tells him he can’t behave like this in school and needs to learn his lesson. She sends him home just before lunch. He feels unheard and punished. They call Tom’s mum from work, and she must leave, losing a day’s pay. He feels guilty and responsible. She’s so cross with Tom, anxious about his future and worried about the bills, she just sees life as hopeless. 

She sends Tom to bed with no tea, and the next day .....

It is a cycle of hardship, hunger, and hopelessness. Tom’s story is a stark reminder of the challenges many children face daily, and why our support is crucial.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. We hold the power to transform the lives of Tom and thousands of other children who are cold, hungry, and scared. We can provide them with warm beds, full bellies, and the opportunity to learn and grow free from the shackles of poverty.

 

This is our collective responsibility. Regardless of how you feel about Tom and the many other boys and girls living in poverty, it is our duty to change this reality. If we fail to act, the financial burden on society will be immense, impacting health, welfare, and criminal justice services. More importantly, the moral cost is incalculable.

Let’s stand together. We have the power to push back on poverty for our people and our planet.