AN Oxford campaign group is calling for Child Benefit to increase by £10 a week to tackle child poverty in the city.

Many families with children are now struggling to make ends meet more than ever because of the coronavirus lockdown, the group says.

The Oxford & District Action on Child Poverty (ODACP) group has said raising Child Benefit would be the fastest way to tackle child poverty.

Spokeswoman Margaret Wareing said: "£15 food vouchers over the summer for free-school-meal children, thanks to Marcus Rashford, are welcome but they won’t be enough.

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"Parents are already spending more on food, electricity and computers because their children are at home."

Oxford MPs Layla Moran and Anneliese Dodds have been asked to raise the issue of an increase in Child Benefit with the Government.

Ms Wareing went on: "Child Benefit is now only £21.05 a week for the first child and as little as £13.95 for any other children.

"Child Benefit is the fastest way to tackle child poverty: it has a very high take-up and it’s paid to a parent whether they are in or out of work. The Government’s £20 a week increase in Universal Credit has helped but it is not focussed on children.”

The ODACP group includes academics, advice centre workers and local councillors.