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A report out today from national charity Citizens Advice gives a new insight into the financial, emotional and physical impact of poverty on children in modern Britain.
It also outlines the steps that are needed if the government is to meet its target of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending it by 2020. Official figures show that one in three children in the UK now live in poverty, and the figures are rising again.
Based on first person accounts from parents asked to share their experiences of struggling to make ends meet, "This is child poverty" gives a voice to some of the families behind the statistics.
They describe how lack of money can mean hard choices between putting food on the table or heating their home in winter, how the family may be forced to live in unfit housing that poses a health risk, how children clothed in second-hand uniform risk being bullied at school, and how birthday presents, days out, and the small treats most children can take for granted are completely unaffordable.
Citizens Advice Chief Executive David Harker said:
"All children deserve to grow up in an environment where they can prosper, where the family can afford the essentials that most of us take for granted, with access to a free education, good housing and work that pays. The government has made some progress in lifting children in Britain out of poverty yet one in three children in the UK now live in poverty, and the figures are rising again. We hope this report will give children and families who live in poverty a voice, to tell the government what more must be done to keep their promise to end child poverty."
The report pinpoints the key changes needed to help the government deliver on its promise to end child poverty by 2020, including:
- Dramatic improvements to the benefits and tax credit systems to increase full take-up of vital benefits and put more money into the pockets of the poorest households;
- More support and better financial incentives for families who move from benefits to work so they are genuinely better off as a result;
- Steps to bring the rapidly rising costs of essential services such as gas and electricity under control, and fair treatment for poor families in debt;
- Action to ensure the government meets its target to increase the number of decent, affordable council and housing association homes to rent, and more help for those currently at risk of losing their homes;
- More help for poor parents to meet the hidden costs of a “free” education such as school meals and uniforms.
The report is being launched today (Wednesday 24 September) at the Citizens Advice national annual conference in York, where speakers include Kate Green, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, and more than 1,000 delegates from Citizens Advice Bureaux all over England and Wales are gathered to debate key issues.
In parents’ own words:
"After trying to pay my bills I only have £100 left to buy food for my three children for a month. I have to go to the market in the evening to pick whatever food the stallholders throw away to cook for my children. When I called for help to apply for free school dinners for my children they told me I do not qualify because I am getting working tax credits. My children wear torn clothes and shoes to school. I don’t know what to do. I am fed up and feel like dying. I am really tired. "
"I struggle to feed and clothe my children. I feel so bad because they never get any treats or days out. It just breaks my heart and I don’t know how long I can keep strong for them."
“My fuel bills cost a fortune. Last winter it got so cold that my children and I had to sleep in the living room, near the coal fire, because we couldn’t sleep in our beds, fully clothed and with extra blankets on top of our quilts."
"I live in a private rented house which costs £128 a week. It’s far too expensive for me to live here as I’m a single parent. The house has been bothered with mice and rats now for nearly two years. Cracks are also starting to appear along the stairs and the bathroom floor is sinking. What if someone comes through it? The landlord will do nothing about it. I can’t bring my daughter up in this house."
"Even with the benefits I receive I find it hard to pay the bills and I cannot afford proper uniform or shoes for my son, so he gets picked on at school."
"I am a single mum of two living on benefits. My daughter starts secondary school in September and I am panicking about the cost of the uniform as it is so expensive. I just know I won’t be able to manage. Not only will I have to buy uniform for her, there is also my son to consider. He will need new uniform too. I just don’t know how I will cope.”
"This weekend everything in my house was on emergency and I had no petrol to get to work. I had to send my children to school claiming they had forgotten their packed lunches so the school would provide them with a school meal whilst I asked a colleague to pick me up and drop me off again telling her I had a problem starting my car!"
"With the hikes in petrol, gas, electricity and food bills I’m dreading Christmas and my son’s birthday. This year is going to be a bleak one."
Notes to editors on End child poverty campaign:
Citizens Advice supports the End child poverty campaign. On Saturday October 4 2008 supporters of the campaign from across the country will be coming together in London’s Trafalgar Square 1-3pm to demand the Government keep their promise to end child poverty.
Notes to editors:
- The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers.
For more information in England and Wales www.citizensadvice.org.uk
For more information and 2008/9 service statistics see Introduction to the service
For 2008/9 service highlights see the Citizens Advice service impact report
For 2008/9 social policy campaigning highlights see the Citizens Advice social policy impact report
- The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
- Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
- Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2 million clients on 6 million problems from April 2008 to March 2009
- Advice and information www.adviceguide.org.uk
- Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
- Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089
- Follow Citizens Advice on Twitter:
 twitter.com/CitizensAdvice
- Subscribe to Citizens Advice press releases via RSS news feed: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/pressoffice
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