As new figures are released today that reveal 4 in 10 children in some areas are still living in poverty in the UK, BYC, in partnership with the Child Poverty Action Group, calls on MPs to sign the pledge. www.byc.org.uk/get-active/end-child-poverty

Through a letter-writing campaign supported by the British Youth Council and Child Poverty Action Group, young people are demanding that Parliament keeps its promise to tackle the serious problem of 3.8 million children living in poverty in the UK. Back in 2010 all three main parties voted together in Parliament to make eliminating child poverty by 2020 a statutory duty, but the latest research has predicted half a million more children will fall into poverty within the next three years.

As MPs go back to Parliament on 10 January, young people will ask their MP to sign up publicly to a statement on the British Youth Council website: "I resolve to make sure Parliament keeps its promise to end child poverty by 2020". Young people will also present their MPs with the latest statistics on child poverty in their local area compiled by the Child Poverty Action Group.

Chair of the British Youth Council, Liam Preston, said: "Young people want our generation to be the one that ends child poverty in the UK. It's completely unacceptable that we still have millions of children growing up today in poverty. We need our MPs to make sure Parliament keeps its promise to end child poverty by 2020."

Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Alison Garnham, said: "Britain has much higher levels of child poverty than most of Europe. Even countries with smaller economies and worse debts than Britain are doing better, so we should not accept any excuses from the politicians. The Prime Minister promised to make British poverty history and to do the right thing for the most disadvantaged even in hard times, so we hope he will take a lead in parliament by renewing his promise a New Year's resolution. This letter writing campaign shows that young people care deeply about this, and we hope that our politicians will show that they do as well. Without urgent action now, the target of ending child poverty by 2020 could be missed".

Dara Farrell BYC Vice Chair Campaigns said "In the 21st century, in a 'developed country' it's appalling that 3.8 million children live in poverty in the UK. Not only is the short term reality devastating for these young people the effects of being in poverty as a child can have drastic consequences in later life for both the individual and wider society. As somebody who has grown up in a one parent family in a council estate I therefore would urge MPs that if they're going to make any new year's resolutions( besides going to the gym more and giving up smoking!)  that they support the British Youth Councils and Child Poverty Action Groups campaign and pledge to do what they can to end child poverty!"

(BYC has three priority campaigns - "votes at 16", "safe and affordable transport", and "end child poverty", and UKYP one - "transport". A new joint initiative on Transport will be announced later in the new  year as a new national joint Select Committee.