When we think about child poverty, we often picture faraway places. But poverty doesn't stop at borders. And it doesn't discriminate based on postcode.
Right now, in the UK, over four million children are living in poverty. That's nearly one in three children. In some areas, the figure is even higher. These are children in our cities, towns, neighbourhoods. They're sitting in classrooms next to other children. Playing in the same parks.
Doing all the things any child wants to do – play, learn, have enough to eat. But struggling to manage. Child poverty in the UK is real. And it's a growing problem.
What child poverty actually looks like
Poverty isn't always visible. But you can find it in the choices families are forced to make when there simply isn't enough to go around.
It's a parent skipping meals so their children can eat. A family living in a single room in temporary accommodation, unable to cook or wash clothes. Children going to school in shoes that don't fit because new ones aren't in the budget.
It's the worry that keeps parents awake at night. The stress that seeps into every part of family life. The impossible calculations about whether to heat the house or buy food.
This shouldn’t be the reality for any family. But in one of the top wealthiest countries in the world, it’s a travesty.
Mary knows this feeling well. When she and her family were evicted from their home in Cardiff, they spent three months moving between hotels and temporary flats. Four children. No kitchen. No way to cook or store food. School uniforms that couldn't be washed.
"It was terrifying," she said. "We didn't really know where we were going."
When they finally moved into a permanent home, the children had no mattresses. Without support from Save the Children's Early Years Grant, they would have been sleeping on bare floorboards. Thankfully, they were able to get the support they needed to turn their house into a home.
The hidden crisis in plain sight
Child poverty isn't evenly spread across the UK. Some regions and communities are hit harder than others.
In London, the South East, and parts of East England, the cost of living has pushed thousands of families to breaking point. Housing costs alone can consume more than half a household's income, leaving little for anything else.
Families in temporary accommodation face particularly acute challenges. They're often isolated from support networks, moved repeatedly, and living in conditions that make daily life nearly impossible.
And it's getting worse. The rising cost of food, energy, and housing has created a perfect storm. Families who were just about managing are now in crisis. Parents who never imagined needing help are turning to food banks and baby banks for the first time.
One in three children under the age of five now lives in poverty. Over a million children are living in destitution—meaning their families can't afford the absolute basics.
The cost to children
Poverty doesn't just mean going without things. It shapes every aspect of a child's life and future.
Children growing up in poverty are more likely to experience poor health, miss out on education, and face emotional and developmental challenges. The stress of living with financial insecurity affects their mental health and wellbeing. It limits their opportunities before they've even had a chance to explore them.
When Mary's family was evicted, her eldest daughter Sophie had to leave her school and friends behind. She's still adjusting. The disruption to routine, the loss of stability, the move across the city to an unfamiliar area—all of it takes a toll.
But there are also moments of resilience. When the mattresses arrived through the Early Years Grant, the children were "over the moon," Mary remembers. Something as simple as a safe place to sleep became a source of joy.
"Home, I think, is being where my children are," Mary said. "They're everything to me. As long as they were with me, I was okay. But it's nice to have somewhere we can settle and actually call our home."
How Save the Children supports families in the UK
For decades, Save the Children has been working to tackle child poverty across the UK. We provide direct support to families in crisis and advocate for systemic change that addresses the root causes.
Our Early Years Grants give families the resources they need to provide for their children—whether that's supermarket vouchers to reduce immediate financial stress or carefully curated play packs.
Through the Baby Bank Alliance, we connect families with donated essentials like nappies, clothes, and feeding equipment. These items are lifelines for parents struggling to afford the basics.
We also provide emergency support, advocate for policy change, and work to ensure every child has access to the opportunities they need to thrive.
But we can't do it alone. Child poverty in the UK is a growing crisis that demands urgent action from all of us.
Making the invisible visible
The families we support aren't statistics. They're parents doing everything they can to give their children a good life. They're children who deserve the same opportunities as every other child in this country.
Mary's family is settled now. The children have bed frames to go with their mattresses. They're adjusting to their new school and neighbourhood. They're building a life in their new home.
But thousands of other families are still in crisis. Still struggling. Still invisible to those who could help.
Child poverty in the UK is real. It's here. And it's something we can change—if we choose to see it.
Join us in making the invisible visible. Learn more about our work in the UK and take action today.
