Child Poverty in the North East
Recent analysis of the latest data on child poverty carried out for the End Child Poverty coalition by Loughborough University sets out once again the scale of child poverty impacting on the lives of children and families across the region.
‘Every child in every part of the North East should be able to have the best start in life, but this research shows how far we currently are from that ambition. We see the terrible, limiting impact of this every single day on the children and families we work with across the region, including those punished by the two-child limit. ‘
Yet we know there is nothing inevitable about child poverty in the North East. With the right policies, investment and leadership from the top, we can change this. The Government must quickly set out how it plans to do this, before another generation of children across our region have their entire childhoods blighted by poverty.’ Leigh Elliott, CEO Children North East
The data, which is based on the region’s parliamentary constituencies, and includes housing costs shows that:
- Two thirds of the constituencies have rates equal to or higher than the UK average of 31%;
- Rates are particularly high in two constituencies with 52% of children in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East growing up in poverty, followed by 43% in Newcastle Central and West
- The rate of child poverty is ‘directly and strongly correlated’ with the percentage of children in the area living in families affected by the two-child limit policy in Universal Credit.
- That simply being in work is no longer a route out of poverty – around 60% of families hit by the two-child limit across the country are in work.
Child poverty is not inevitable and can be tackled by action at national, regional and local levels. Although we are disappointed that the Government has delayed the publication of the National Child Poverty Strategy until the Autumn, we will continue to call for a strong national policy framework to tackle child poverty, including the scrapping of the two-child limit, which is the single biggest action which would make a difference across the country, and especially in areas with higher rates of child poverty such as the North East.
We will also continue to work with strategic and local authorities in tackling local issues, and promoting Poverty Proofing©, our evidence-based approach to working with schools, health trusts and other organisations to mitigate the impact of poverty on children.
Child poverty has lasting and resounding impacts on children as they grow up, creating hidden barriers to accessing healthcare, education and cultural opportunities as well as building a stigma around what they feel they can aspire to be. “That isn’t for people like us” is a phrase we hear all too often from children experiencing poverty, referencing career choices, education opportunities and even places to live.
We must all take action now to tackle child poverty and ensure every baby, child and young person has the tools they need to grow up happy and healthy.
