Tackling Child Poverty: Helen Morgan Visits Little Stars
We were delighted to welcome Helen Morgan, Member of Parliament for North Shropshire, to our Stockroom in Oswestry last Friday.
The visit gave us the opportunity to highlight the vital work Little Stars is doing to support children and families experiencing hardship across Shropshire.
Helen met with our team, including Founder and CEO Leanne Simcoe, Chair of Trustees Ian Groves, Operations Manager Hannah, and Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator Chantal. She also spent time speaking with some of our wonderful volunteers and corporate supporters from Clickingmad, a Bridgnorth-based company that generously donated their time to assist with stockroom tasks on the day.
The Growing Concern of Child Poverty
Child poverty remains a significant issue across the UK, and Shropshire is no exception.
UK-wide: As of the financial year ending 2024, approximately 4.5 million children – that’s 30% of all children – were living in relative low-income households after housing costs.
Shropshire: In 2021–22, around 19.7% of children under 16 were living in relative low-income families, equating to over 10,245 children.
North Shropshire: According to the End Child Poverty Coalition (2023), an estimated 31% of children in North Shropshire are living in poverty after housing costs.
These statistics are more than just numbers – they reflect real families struggling to afford the basics: from nappies and toiletries to school uniforms and safe places for their children to sleep.
What We Do at Little Stars
At Little Stars, we support families across Shropshire by providing essential items for babies, children, and pregnant women – including clothing, toiletries, cots, mattresses, and more.
Our work aims to reduce stress on families facing crisis and ensure that every child has access to the essentials they need to grow, feel safe, and thrive. Referrals to our service come from midwives, health visitors, social workers, and other frontline professionals working with families in need.
Helen Morgan’s visit was an important opportunity to raise awareness of the growing pressures on local families, and the need for increased support at both community and policy level.
How You Can Help
We rely on the generosity of individuals, businesses, and organisations to continue our work. Whether it’s volunteering a few hours of your time, donating, or becoming a corporate supporter, your involvement helps us reach more families when they need us most.
We’re incredibly grateful to Helen Morgan MP for taking the time to visit.
If you’d like to get involved or learn more about our work, please get in touch.
