Yes, but what do they mean by child poverty?

They mean children living in families where the household income is less than 60 per cent of the median average, adjusting to account for different size households. By this definition, the government estimates 31 per cent of children in inner London live in poverty.

But isn't this an issue for central government to tackle?

The idea is that any organisation that delivers services to families in the capital - local authorities, children's trusts, health services, schools, housing services, the voluntary sector and so on - should focus on the additional needs of poor families and adjust its services accordingly. So it might be assessing whether its services are family-friendly and helping parents to stay in employment.

What specifically will they have to do?

The pledge has nine areas, developed by the government's Child Poverty Unit, in which organisations will work to help families raise their income and improve outcomes for children. The themes are about keeping the focus on poverty through measures such as strategic plans, evidence-based service improvement, senior management poverty champions and allowing the views of young people and parents to shape services.

It's not just vague commitments though, is it?

Each signatory organisation must commit to at least one specific action under each theme. And those actions must be "Smart" - specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-related. Hence, under the employment practice theme, organisations could commit to a start date for offering flexible working or ensuring all staff are paid the London Living Wage.

So what happens now?

Organisations in London were asked to look at the pledge over the summer and confirm to the Child Poverty Unit that they are willing to commit, supplying details of their specific actions. All signatories will be invited to join government ministers and the London Mayor Boris Johnson at a launch event called the London Child Poverty Summit in October.

FACT BOX

- The Child Poverty Unit was set up last October and is a joint initiative of the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Work and Pensions

- The London Living Wage is calculated by the Greater London Authority and is currently set at £7.45 an hour, 35 per cent higher than the legal minimum wage

- The pledge can be found at www.cypnow.co.uk/doc

- Copies need to be completed and returned to the Child Poverty Unit by 19 September if organisations wish to take part in the October summit.