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Mike Hancock MP visits Rainer on Day Out for Child Poverty
Friday 2 November 2007
Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock visited Rainer today to talk to young people about the difficulties they face moving into work and further education.
The visit was organised as part of MP's Day Out for Child Poverty - a day that aims to draw attention both to the issue of child poverty and to the fantastic work that is being done across the country to support families, children and young people. The Campaign recently released new information showing 25 per cent of children are living in poverty in Mr Hancock's constituency.
Rainer City Training provides a range of work-based learning programmes to young people between the ages of 16 and 25 who are not engaged in education, training or employment. They may have been excluded from school or have dropped out of college and are unsure of what to do next with their lives or how to secure that elusive first job opportunity.
Jacquie Lawrence, Executive Service Manager for Rainer City Training Solent, said:
"Many of our young people come from the most deprived parts of Portsmouth. They lack basic skills and have never been given a chance by employers. It is wonderful watching their confidence grow when they are given that crucial opportunity to build their skills through work experience.
"It is really useful for them to meet Mr Hancock face to face and describe the difficulties they face. I hope he will take what he has heard today back to the Parliament and become a passionate campaigner for doing more to help our children and young people out of poverty!"
Speaking during his visit to the service, Mr Hancock said:
"This is a tremendous programme that will make a big difference to many young people's lives. This is not just about giving a hand-out but a helping "hand-up" to young people so they can improve their skills and make their way in the world and hopefully go on to further training or full-time employment. I will certainly continue to do all I can as an MP to support schemes like this and encourage more to be set-up."
3.8 million children - one in three - are currently living in poverty in the UK, one of the highest rates in the industrialised world. The Campaign to End Child Poverty's Month of Action is a series of events and activities held each year around the UK to increase public awareness of child poverty issues and allow people the chance to show their support for the Campaign.
Ends
Notes to Editors
1. Mike Hancock MP will be available for interviews and photo opportunities on Friday 2 November at 3.15pm at Rainer City Training Solent, Great Western House, 34 Isambard Brunel Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2RJ.
2. For further information please contact Lucy Jackson, Rainer Press Officer on 020 7840 5627.
3. Rainer is the national charity for under-supported young people. We work with 18,000 young people and young adults in 115 communities across the country - including those who are at risk of family breakdown, in or leaving care, caught up in the criminal justice system, homeless, or outside education, training or employment. www.raineronline.org.
4. There are 3.8 million children currently living in poverty in the UK, one of the highest rates in the industrialised world. 1.3 million children are living in a household with an annual income of less than £7,000.
5. The End Child Poverty Campaign Month of Action runs from 17 October (World Poverty Day) until 20 November (Universal Children's Day). Further information on The MP's Day Out for Child Poverty and the Campaign to End Child Poverty may be found at http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/monthofaction.html
