100,000 more UK children now living in poverty
Save the Children's response to Household Below Average Income statistics
Tuesday 10 June 2008
Phillipa Hunt, Save the Children spokesperson, said, "We are shocked that the number of UK children living in poverty has increased - an additional 100,000 children are now living in poverty since last year. This is a poor result that will be a set-back to the government's target of halving the number of children living in poverty by 2010. Yet we know if they commit the money needed this target can be met."
Poverty levels in the UK have barely dropped since 2000. Last year's figures showed incomes for the poorest 10% of children fell by 2.2%, worsening the levels of child poverty in the UK.
A recent YouGov survey for Save the Children also showed that the poorest families are suffering most from rising prices. Of those in households with a net income under £15,000 a year, 85% have had to cut back on basics such as food and clothing.
Hunt continued, "Many families on very low incomes continue to struggle to live on the money they have, resulting in them cutting back on essentials such as buying food or clothing. While the impact of the £1bn pledged by the government in the March budget isn't yet reflected in these figures, today's results demonstrate more action is urgently required. Poverty has a direct impact on every aspect of a child's life, as a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty we are calling on the government to commit the £3bn needed to halve child poverty by 2010 and make a real difference to a million children's lives.
"This and last year's figures have made it clear that unless governments continue their commitment to invest in child poverty then child poverty in the UK will rise."
Find out more
- Read more about our work fighting child poverty in the UK
- Find out about our work in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Visit the End Child Poverty website - http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/
