Author Angela Neustatter

A WRITER has told why she donates to a charity aiming to help those living in poverty in the borough.

Author and journalist Angela Neustatter, 79, said she has been an Islington Giving donor for four years – the charity is launching an appeal for help later today (Friday).

Ms Neustatter said the failures of the government have left ever greater numbers of children and young adults in poverty with fewer opportunities, while often the children of ministers and their peers enjoy unparalleled comfort and optimism.

“It’s unspeakable that in a rich country like this children should be living in poverty,” she added. “I would be so ashamed if I was running a government like that.”

As a result of huge inequality both on her doorstep and beyond, Ms Neustatter said it was a very easy decision to support her local charity Islington Giving, which was born out of research done by its sister charity the Cripplegate Foundation and is based in the same building in Elliott’s Place, Angel.

While she does not give a fortune – “I don’t have a fortune to give” – she does what she can and encourages all her better-off friends to do the same,

Ms Neustatter, who has lived near to the charity in Cross Street for 20 years, said: “We vastly need to understand the importance of looking after people, including those who can’t so well look after themselves, due to mental health and poverty and falling off the ladder.”

She added: “We would have a healthier, happier society if we were all prepared to say I can give a little – that’s my plea to many of the rich, who don’t seem at all inclined to give a little more to look after the most disadvantaged.”

The author, who has published 14 books and written for most national newspapers, said the “separation of society” between rich and poor did not just affect the poor and suggested the population’s wealthiest would feel better about themselves and the world if they supported those less fortunate.

“We’ve watched this new government of ours quite dramatically offering more money to people who already have more money than they’ll ever be able to spend or enjoy,” she added.

“With this money they are inclined to separate themselves and prefer to be an elite. But I believe they suffer from that too.

“They make themselves feel separated from the larger society and when the outside world appears hostile it makes them angry.

“But how much happier might everyone be if there was less division, envy and fear.”