LONDON.- The damaging consequences for children arising from the shortage of social housing in London are laid bare in Bedrooms of London, a new photo-documentary exhibition at London’s Foundling Museum, created in partnership with London’s child poverty charity, The Childhood Trust. The exhibition presents a new body of work by photographer Katie Wilson. Focusing on the spaces in which children are sleeping, the photographs are shown alongside first-hand narratives from families, and offer a poignant insight into the lives and experiences of children living in poverty across London.

In a city where extreme poverty and wealth exist side-by-side, Bedrooms of London makes visible the often shocking and unseen reality of home life for the 700,000 children currently living below the poverty line in our capital, and challenges the prejudices and stereotypes associated with child poverty.

Bedrooms of London is the result of two years of engagement by The Childhood Trust with families living in every borough of London. A book of photographs in the exhibition, alongside a report on the housing crisis and its devastating impact on children in London, will be sent to key policy makers, highlighting the challenges facing children and their families. The project was a collaboration between The Childhood Trust and award-winning social change communications agency GOOD, in response to the social housing crisis affecting London’s most disadvantaged children. Presented at the Foundling Museum, Bedrooms of London reflects the Museum’s mission to inspire everyone to make a positive contribution to society, by celebrating the power of individuals and the arts to change lives. Shown in the context of the Museum, the exhibition builds on the story of the Foundling Hospital, highlighting the situation today for some of London’s most vulnerable children.

The Childhood Trust is London’s child poverty charity, targeting 700,000 children living in poverty in London. The vision of Trust is to ensure that every child can realise their potential, despite poverty and disadvantage. From its work with grass roots charities across London over the last 5 years, it has gained insight into the issue of living conditions for the most vulnerable children in our communities and the impacts this has. The Trust helps vulnerable children to overcome the disadvantages caused by poverty such as hunger, homelessness, stress, loneliness and anxiety. Their work supports children from across London and is aimed at engaging the most disadvantaged children from the poorest communities. The Childhood Trust’s network of over 150 projects provides practical, emotional and inspirational support delivered by trusted, caring adults. These projects help children to achieve their full potential, despite facing many challenges. To date their work has supported over 170,000 disadvantaged children in London.