Britain is one of the richest countries. So why do children live in poverty?
4 hours ago
- #child-poverty
- #UK-austerity
- #social-inequality
- Thea Jaffe, a single mother in London, unexpectedly needed to use a baby bank for her second child due to financial struggles.
- Child poverty in the UK has reached a record high, with 4.5 million children living in relative poverty and 1 million in destitution.
- Charities like Little Village are stepping in to provide essential supplies for families who can't afford them due to rising living costs and weakened public services.
- Many families, even those with working parents, struggle to meet basic needs due to high housing and childcare costs, especially in London.
- The UK's child poverty rate is rising faster than in other wealthy countries, with inequalities disproportionately affecting Black, Asian, single-parent, and disabled families.
- Conservative government policies, including the two-child benefit cap, are largely blamed for the increase in child poverty.
- The Labour government has pledged to address child poverty but faces challenges balancing public service investments with limited funds and tax pledges.
- Parents on the breadline report having no financial resilience left, with the social safety net effectively disappearing for many.