Coalition urges Government to act over 3.5 million children now living in poverty

Almost half of children are living in poverty in some parts of the UK, according to a new study.

The End Child Poverty coalition said the problem was worst in large cities, especially London, Birmingham and Manchester.

The coalition of charities, faith groups and unions warned that low income families will find it increasingly difficult to pay for basic essentials in the coming years as prices rise while benefits are frozen.

There are more than three and a half million children living in poverty, ranging from one in 10 in some areas to 47% in others, said the report.

A study of Parliamentary constituencies showed those with the highest levels of child poverty included Birmingham Ladywood, Manchester Central and Poplar and Limehouse in London, while those with the lowest included Gordon, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Sheffield Hallam and York Outer.

End Child Poverty chairman Sam Royston said: “As the Prime Minister has rightly recognised, this is not a country that works for everyone. In every community, there are children being denied the happy childhoods and the good start in life other children take for granted. Our children are now twice as likely to be poor as our pensioners.

“Many families who are just about managing today, won’t be managing tomorrow if Universal Credit leaves them with fewer pounds in their pocket, and if rising costs of living means their money doesn’t stretch as far as it used to.

“This month’s Autumn Statement is a major opportunity for the new Government to act to help these families.

“We urge the Chancellor to reverse the significant cuts to Universal Credit targeted at working families and, at the very least, shield children’s benefits from inflation.”

The coalition’s figures calculate that households are living in poverty if their income (adjusted to account for household size,) is less than 60% of the average. All poverty rates are calculated on an after housing costs basis.

Margaret Greenwood, shadow minister for employment and inequalities, said the report was shocking.

“Over half of those living in poverty are in working households. It’s clear that low pay, insecure work and the lack of affordable housing are taking their toll on UK families and the children of this country are suffering as a result.

“That’s why Labour is calling for the full reversal of damaging cuts to Universal Credit which will leave 2.5 million working families on average £2,100 worse off.”

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Leading foodbank network set to give out its highest ever number of parcels

The country’s leading foodbank network is on course to distribute the highest number of food parcels in its history after a “staggering” half a million were handed out in recent months.

The Trussell Trust said that between April and September, its foodbanks distributed 519,342 three-day emergency supplies, around 13,000 more than the same period a year ago, with 188,584 going to children.

Benefit delays and changes were the biggest reason people turned to foodbanks, accounting for 44% of referrals to the Trust’s 420 foodbanks.

The charity called for a direct telephone line between foodbanks and local job centres so that help can be speeded up, reducing stress of those in need.

The Trust said it was on course to distribute the highest number of food parcels in its 12-year history in the current year,

Low income was the second largest cause of a crisis, accounting for almost a quarter of all referrals, driven by low pay, insecure work or rising costs.

David McAuley, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said: “As the number of emergency food parcels provided to people by foodbanks rises once again, it’s clear that more can be done to get people back on their feet faster.

“Many foodbanks now host independent welfare and debt advisers but they cannot solve all the issues.

“To stop UK hunger we must make sure the welfare system works fairly and compassionately, stopping people getting to a point where they have no money to eat.

“It feels like we could be seeing a new era at the Department for Work and Pensions with a consultation on Work Capability Assessments and willingness to engage in dialogue with charities working on the front line.

“A telephone hotline could build on this and go a long way to improving foodbanks’ ability to help get people out of a crisis faster.”

The report said projects offering additional support to tackle the underlying causes of a referral had made a positive impact, such as in Coventry where referrals fell by almost 3,000 in the past year after the introduction of welfare advisers.

One woman referred to the Coventry foodbank was given advice about working tax credits and debt repayments, which increased her income, meaning she could afford food for herself and her children.

Debbie Abrahams, shadow secretary of state for work and pensions, said: “The Trussell Trust report showing that the UK is on course for a record number of people needing to use emergency food parcels is a damming indictment of the Tory Government’s failure. Even more staggering in the run up to Christmas is almost 200,000 children will be relying on a food parcel to get a decent meal.

“It is clear that delays in benefits payments and changes to eligibility are a major cause behind this increase.

“While the Tories continue to look the other way, refusing to accept the evidence, I’ve announced that Labour would scrap their punitive sanctions regime.”
 
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