Posh backs charity poverty campaign (From Congleton Guardian)

Posh backs charity poverty campaign

3:03pm Saturday 14th November 2009

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Victoria Beckham has spoken out about childhood poverty after taking her eldest son to visit some of the poorest children in America.

The former Spice Girl and 10-year-old Brooklyn engaged in a number of activities run by the Save the Children charity during a two-day trip to Clay County, in the state of Kentucky.

Beckham said the visit had shown her the need for all children to have an equal start in life and helped her son learn about the responsibilities of his generation.

The mother of three and Brooklyn took part in a number of programmes last week, including teaching football, reading to toddlers and providing literacy and nutrition tools to parents on home visits.

At Manchester Elementary School, in Manchester, Kentucky, they participated in an after-school programme involving reading and healthy snacks and handed out Adidas shoes and backpacks.

And during a visit to Big Creek Elementary School, in Oneida, the pair took part in a book bag exchange, where toddlers were given bags filled with books, and read one of their favourite stories, Duck In The Truck.

Beckham also met school principals and teachers to try to understand the challenges they face and the support provided by Save the Children's programmes.

Clay County, in the south-east of Kentucky, is one of the poorest counties in America, with a childhood poverty rate of 47.8% and an average household income of 19,728 dollars (around £12,000).

Beckham said: "What I saw in Clay County was the hope and promise inherent in every child. That's why we have to make sure every single child has a fair and equal start in life.

"Seeing Save the Children's innovative programmes in action, I know that we can begin to reverse the childhood poverty crisis."

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