Paul Kissack, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, says:“Growing levels of poverty and insecurity are acting as a tightening brake on growth and opportunity. We can’t expect children to be ready for school or able to learn if they’re going without the basics.
“Growing up in poverty can also lead to poor health, increasing pressure on the NHS. Child poverty will only be driven down through focused, deliberate and determined policy action. Even very strong economic growth won’t automatically change the picture.”
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation warns the government that a strong economy can increase wages and employment but will not in itself reduce poverty.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that lifting the two-child limit on benefits would lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.
Children in large families with three or more children (45%) have higher rates of poverty compared to all children (30%). Children in lone parent families are also more likely to be living in poverty (44%).
The Labour government is set to publish its cross-government child poverty strategy this year, and has promised to address “systemic drivers” of poverty, such as housing and employment.
A government spokesperson said: “No child should be in poverty – that’s why our ministerial taskforce is exploring all levers available across government to give children across the UK the best start in life, while our plan for change will raise living standards across the country.
“As we fix the foundations of the economy, we’re increasing the living wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families with children by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions to help low-income families and make everyone better off.”
However, the government has also pledged to slash the welfare bill.
Kissack said: “Policy action must start with the system designed to help people meet their costs of living – social security. At the moment that system is not only failing to do its job but, worse, actively pushing some people into deeper poverty, through cruel limits and caps. The good news is that change – meaningful change to people’s lives – is possible and can be achieved quickly. We know this from our recent history, and from different approaches across the UK.”
Alongside other charities and organisations including the Big Issue, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has repeatedly called on the government to increase universal credit so that people can afford their essentials, with a protected minimum floor built into the benefits system. Universal credit is currently believed to fall short by around £120 each month.
“The British public believes that everyone should be able to afford the essentials,” Kissack added. “With its child poverty strategy later this year the government has the opportunity to show it agrees. Any credible child poverty strategy must include policies that rebuild the tattered social security system. The wellbeing of millions of children depends on that. And so do the government’s wider ambitions for improved living standards and opportunity.”
There are around 14.3 million people living in poverty in the UK. That is more than one in five people, and 4.3 million of them are children.
Mark Russell, chief executive of the Children’s Society, said: “These stark projections show that even positive growth in the UK economy isn’t enough to reverse this crisis without urgent policy changes put in place to make a real difference. The much-anticipated child poverty strategy is a positive step, but we still need more progress. Immediate action is required: abolish the two-child limit, reform social security – if we are to give children the futures they deserve.”
Child poverty in Scotland are projected to be just 70% of the level in England by 2029, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report. If the rest of the UK were to see the same reduction in the share of children in poverty achieved in Scotland, 800,000 fewer children would be in poverty.
Councillor Arooj Shah, chair of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, added: “The most effective way to support low-income families and lift them out of poverty is through an adequately resourced national safety net.
“This needs to be alongside sustainable long-term funding for vital local services provided by councils, such as advice services, local welfare assistance, housing and employment support. We are engaging with the government on its proposed strategy and working with them to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life.”
Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.
