After reading the “Helping those in desperate need” article (T&A, March 23), I cannot see how this can be happening in this day and age.

One part tells us of children sleeping in homes with no heating, without a proper meal and without school clothing to put on in a morning. How can this happen?

I was brought up in the Fifties and Sixties in a working-class family. We never had lots of money coming in, but I don’t think I saw anyone living in “child poverty”.

Likewise, when we brought up our own children we lived within our (modest) means – and, yes, we had some help with benefits while I was working – but we always managed.

I think perhaps some people could do a lot better, maybe with help on how to manage the money they have coming in.

There will always be people better off than others, but if children are getting into these situations I think we need to look at better household management from parents.

Perhaps we could have some kind of older family voluntary workers who are more capable of working within the budget of the household.

George Watmough, Carr Lane, Shipley