How Poverty Impacts Children
Poverty and the Impact It Has On Children
There are currently 3.6 million children living in poverty in the UK. That’s almost a third of all children. 1.6 million of these children live in severe poverty. In the UK 58% of children living in poverty are in a family where someone works.
What is child poverty?
A family with two adults and two children needs to have £349 each week in order to be above the poverty line. It is a child who does not have access to reasonable level of clothing, nutrition, shelter or entertainment (whatever that form takes). It could be argued that the benefit culture that seems to be around these days means that many children of people on benefits have less poverty than two full time working parents who simply cannot afford the current cost of living.
£12 a day is the reality of living in poverty
Many families living on a low income have only about £12 per day per person. This needs to cover: all of their day to day expenditure, including necessities such as food and transport, Occasional items such as new shoes and clothes, school trips and activities for children, and replacing broken household items such as washing machines and kitchen equipment, All household bills such as electricity, gas and water, telephone bills, and TV licences.
What effects can child poverty have?
Living in a poor family can reduce children's expectations of their own lives and lead to a cycle where poverty is repeated from generation to generation. As adults they are more likely to suffer ill-health, be unemployed or homeless, and become involved in offending, drug and alcohol abuse, and abusive relationships. In tackling poverty it is crucial to break the cycle. Education is a key element of this, as are initiatives which involve people in developing their skills and finding their own solutions to the problems in their community.
Does child poverty affect children's health?
Three-year-olds in households with incomes below about £10,000 are 25%
There are currently 3.6 million children living in poverty in the UK. That’s almost a third of all children. 1.6 million of these children live in severe poverty. In the UK 58% of children living in poverty are in a family where someone works.
What is child poverty?
A family with two adults and two children needs to have £349 each week in order to be above the poverty line. It is a child who does not have access to reasonable level of clothing, nutrition, shelter or entertainment (whatever that form takes). It could be argued that the benefit culture that seems to be around these days means that many children of people on benefits have less poverty than two full time working parents who simply cannot afford the current cost of living.
£12 a day is the reality of living in poverty
Many families living on a low income have only about £12 per day per person. This needs to cover: all of their day to day expenditure, including necessities such as food and transport, Occasional items such as new shoes and clothes, school trips and activities for children, and replacing broken household items such as washing machines and kitchen equipment, All household bills such as electricity, gas and water, telephone bills, and TV licences.
What effects can child poverty have?
Living in a poor family can reduce children's expectations of their own lives and lead to a cycle where poverty is repeated from generation to generation. As adults they are more likely to suffer ill-health, be unemployed or homeless, and become involved in offending, drug and alcohol abuse, and abusive relationships. In tackling poverty it is crucial to break the cycle. Education is a key element of this, as are initiatives which involve people in developing their skills and finding their own solutions to the problems in their community.
Does child poverty affect children's health?
Three-year-olds in households with incomes below about £10,000 are 25%