Join leading experts to explore the geography, causes, and consequences of child poverty in the UK today, and what urgent actions are needed to build a fairer future.
Child poverty in the UK is at its highest level in a generation, with millions of children growing up without secure access to food, housing, or opportunities. What does this mean for society today, and for the health and wellbeing of generations to come?
Join us for a timely and thought-provoking panel discussion as we examine the scale, causes, and consequences of child poverty in Britain. The event will discuss the biology of poverty, which explores how inequality and deprivation affect not only children’s lives and opportunities but also their bodies and long-term health.
Together, the speakers will reflect on the deepening crisis, the human cost of austerity and inequality, and the changes needed to create a fairer society.
Meet our speakers
Alison Garnham is the Chief Executive of . Prior to that she was the CEO of Daycare Trust. She has previously worked as the the Director of Policy, Research and Information at One Parent Families (now ), a role she did for nine years. Alison was an Honorary Officer of the End Child Poverty Campaign.
Danny Dorling is the Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at the University of Oxford. His work examines issues of inequality, health, housing, education, and employment in Britain and internationally. He has written and co-authored numerous influential books, including Inequality and the 1%, Rule Britannia: Brexit and the End of Empire, and more recently Seven Children.
Helen Rowe is a writer, campaigner, and social policy researcher with a focus on poverty, housing, and social justice. She is the author of Eliminating Poverty in Britain, which offers practical and radical proposals for ending child poverty in the UK. Helen provides local authorities, schools and charities training on the biology of poverty and child poverty.
Chaired by Martine Croxall, a presenter with BBC News Channel and a Fellow of the Society.
Booking information
- Advance booking for this event is required. In order to book you will need an account on our website. If you already have an account you will be prompted to log in when you click 'book now'. Please if you do not have one yet (you do not need to be a member of the Society to create an account).
- Free in-person student tickets: We want as many people as possible to be able to enjoy an inspiring evening at the Society, so for this event we are offering free in-person student tickets with the code PANELSTUDENT at checkout.
Attending in-person
- We do not issue tickets (electronic or physical) for this event. Instead your name will be on a list at the door. Please use the Society's entrance on Exhibition Road.
Attending online
- If you are attending the event online, the joining instructions will be included in your confirmation email.
If you have any questions or require assistance with your booking, please email events@rgs.org
Venue information
This event will be held in the Ondaatje Theatre at Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR.
Plan your visit to the Society and find more information about our venue, including our address, accessibility and transport links.
Accessibility at our events
We want everyone to feel welcome at our events. Key accessibility features of this event include:
- Step-free access to the event
- Accessible toilets
- Assistance dogs are welcome
- Hearing loop
For full details, please visit our accessibility page. If you have any questions or specific access requirements, feel free to get in touch with us on access@rgs.org