There was a question on child poverty last Thursday and I came in on the issue of Baby Bonds or the Child Trust Fund to give its proper title. I think the abolition of Baby Bonds was one of the governments worst acts in the area of child poverty. Baby Bonds were awarded to all new born children and any friend or relative could top them up during the teenage years so that the child had a fair pocket of savings by the time they reached adulthood.
The minister claimed that he wanted to deal with child poverty partly by mentoring but frankly I would rather put money directly into a child’s savings then rely on mentoring alone – desirable as mentoring may be. As Baby Bonds also encouraged saving I think it fitted rather well with current economic policy. I suspect that we will eventually re invent them – I certainly hope so.
Surely of much greater primary importance, need, and urgency than “cumulative birthday money-bonuses bonds”
(for any-body not simply for children)
is
sustainworthy-individual, and sustainworthy-community, education
(again, for every-body not just for children)?
0215W29.JSDM.
So right Miles.
Take but four of the repressed educational-&-holistic-living know-how books, affordably available:
“The Moving Center” (Hendricks K. & Hendricks G.)
“The New Rules of Posture” (Mary Bond)
“Six Thinking Hats” (E. de Bono)
“Laban for all” (Newlove & Dalby) to which for ageing people could also be gainfully added the four pairs of ‘unhealthy’, imbalanced-movement-habit, from “Effort” (Laban & Lawrence)
Crampedness vs Sloppiness ;
Obstinacy vs Fussiness ;
Laziness vs Hastiness ;
Stickiness vs Flightiness.
Familiarising with and trying out some of the know-how from each such source will surely raise the simple question in the mind “Why on Earth are these not included in curriculums and syllabuses, literally as fundamentals ?”
Whether their parents are contractually married or not, is neither here nor there, but I had cause to wonder yesterday how many illegal immigrants there are who wish to reside permanently in this country, do not return to their own, and who are unable to form a permanent contractual relationship, because they can not present birth certificates to the registrar.
‘Tis subject for noble Baroness Deech really, interested as she is.
If you are an illegal immigrant presumably you can not sign a contract which does require a birth certificate although you may have a National Insurance number…. which may not.
Most Africans, for example would not need a
contract. Most Non EU East Europeans and Central Asians might.
Does the council housing association require
Birth certificates, or would that again depend on the Local authority?
It is upsetting that we still live in a time where children can grow up in poverty, I think most people think of the 3rd world when they think of child poverty but it exists everywhere. I donate annually to a kids charity and encourage others to do the same.