The latest figures suggest that there are 151,630 school age children in temporary accommodation. This is the highest level since records begun in 2004. In the past 12 month the number of children affected has increased by over 15%.

This hasn’t happened by accident, it isn’t the result of unstoppable economic forces, and it certainly isn’t the result of feckless spending by parents. This crisis is the result of a deliberate conservative policy to shrink the size of the state. We were originally told by the conservatives that painful austerity was required to get government borrowing under control. Cameron and Osborne never hit the targets they set themselves for reducing the deficit.

The Education Secretary has set up a ministerial taskforce to deal with child poverty, and have promised to pass a child wellbeing act. The NEU should not have to campaign to ensure that students have enough to eat, and their basic needs are meet so they can learn. However, as long both major political parties let our children down, we will campaign to protect them. You can find out what NEU is doing nationally here.

Locally we are asking people to contact their MP and demand that they vote for the removal of the two child benefit cap. If you want to get more involved in our campaigns, get touch at sam.hilton@neu.org.uk or come along to our next district meeting.