Autism agency urges PM to increase Tax Credits

The UK Autism Foundation has just released a newsletter highlighting Autism and the Credit Crunch. Autism campaigners maintain the need for Her Majesty's Government to reach out to families with autism who are below the poverty line.

Thousands will be marching on Saturday 4th October in the' Keep The Promise' event, organised by The Campaign to End Child Poverty, a coalition of more than 120 UK organisations (including the UK Autism Foundation) who are all united in their concern about the unacceptably high levels of child poverty . Campaigners are calling on Her Majesty's Government to keep the promise - that they will end child poverty.

Supporting the campaign is Ivan Corea of the UK Autism Foundation who said: 'The credit crunch is devastating families with autism. Many are faced with increased food bills, fuel bills, some face re-possessions. We are urging the Government to step in and help the vulnerable and the marginalised financially....this must include an increase in tax credits, the disability living allowance and the carer's allowance.'

The UK Autism Foundation is a new autism charity for a new generation. The charity came from the work of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK launched in 2000 to lobby for better public services. The UK Autism Foundation has three strands to their work - to build the first ever state-of-the-art Autism Centre in London, to build an autism school to cater to the needs of children with autism in East London from Tower Hamlets to Redbridge and to build up a fund to help the poor. The charity is calling on companies and organisations to support them in order to reach a target of £10 million. Their work is supported by patron Lee Scott MP who has championed the cause of autism in parliament in Westminster.Last year Lee Scott initiated a landmark debate on autism in the UK parliament.

The UKAF call for an increase in tax credits, the disability living allowance and the carer's allowance has gained the support of Baroness Uddin of Bethnal Green. The Baroness has campaigned tirelessly on child poverty in the East End of London.

According to the Campaign to End Child Poverty 5.5 mllion British children are affected. 1 in 3 children live in poverty in the UK today. Poverty is doing damage to society and campaigners are appealing for a better future for all children.The UKAF is urging people to join the march and speak up for the poor.

Thusands are expected at Millbank, near Lambeth Bridge at 11 30 am on Saturday 4th October. They plan to march through Westminster to Trafalgar Square. Family fun will follow at 1400 with speakers at Trafalgar Square. The Children's Society celebrity campaigner Sophie Ellis Bextor joins a whole host of celebrities and dignitaries supporting the End Child Poverty event in London.

For further particulars please see the organiser's website:
http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/promises

For the UK Autism Foundation website:
http://www.ukautismfoundation.org