The campaign vows to make sure no child goes hungry this festive season.
Together with Reach’s regional titles and Save the Children, The Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror have launched a ‘Save a kid’s Christmas’ campaign.
The appeal follows yesterday’s child poverty special in the news brand and the release of data from the Social Mobility Foundation, which reports that 4.2 million children in this country live in poverty, 600,000 more than in 2011-2012. Sadly, this figure is projected to rise to 5.2 million by 2022.
The campaign is supported by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who wrote an exclusive article on child poverty in the Daily Mirror yesterday, where he stated that eradicating it should be a national duty and not an aspiration.
He commented: “Never has the task of tackling child poverty been more urgent. I call on the government to recommit to the task of bearing down on child poverty.”
Celebrity ambassadors have also shown their support, including newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, who said: “Today, I’m appealing to you to protect the magic of Christmas by giving whatever you can to ‘Save a Kid’s Christmas’ for Save the Children. You’ll be lighting up the faces of children who wrote to Santa because they believe in the power of Christmas magic.”
Alison Phillips, Daily Mirror editor-on-chief, added: “Earlier this year we highlighted the child poverty crisis. Now the pandemic has made things worse. Millions of children and families are experiencing unnecessary hardship. The Mirror’s association with Save the Children goes back to the charity’s very beginnings. With ‘Save a kid’s Christmas’ we are pledging that no kids should be starved of food and fun this festive season and beyond.”
Throughout the year, the Daily Mirror has highlighted the devastating impact that coronavirus has had on people’s lives and in March, published a child poverty edition calling on the government to increase child benefits by £5.
How to support
Call: 0800 8148 148
Visit: www.savethechildren.org.uk/mirror
Text MIRROR TO 70008 to donate £5 or MIRROR1 TO 70008 to donate £10
Send a cheque payable to Save the Children UK to Freepost Daily Mirror Christmas Appeal 2020, Save the Children, 1 St John’s Lane, London, EC1M 4AR
