CARDIFF, 26 March 2026: Responding to the newly published Households Below Average Income poverty figures that shows child poverty figures in Wales remain scandalous, Melanie Simmonds, Head of Save the Children Cymru, said:
“These figures reveal that far too many children in Wales - one in three - are still experiencing the injustice of child poverty. The child poverty rate is higher in Wales than in any of the other UK nations.
“Securing hopeful childhoods for over 200,000 children is now in real jeopardy with many missing out on the basics every single day, costing children now and costing us all in the future.
“This serves as a reminder of the importance of investing in children with the UK Government’s decision to lift the two-child limit pulling 75,000 children out of poverty in Wales by the end of the next UK parliament. But further action is also needed.
“Child poverty is not inevitable; it is the result of choices. It is crucial that the next Welsh Government tackles the issues of child poverty head on and builds better childhoods for all. Putting more money in families' pockets and introducing a Welsh Child Payment to make sure no child goes without and that families, our society and our economy can thrive is one way of doing this and ensuring the rug isn’t pulled under the feet of children’s futures.”
Notes for Editors:
- Figures published today can be found here - Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2025 - GOV.UK
The figure for children in Wales affected by the two-child limit is around 75000 according to the Department of Work and Pensions statistics, April 2025 - Universal Credit claimants statistics on the two child limit policy, April 2025
In our Senedd Election 2026 manifesto we are calling on the next Welsh Government to:
- Put more money in families’ pockets by introducing a Child Payment
- Invest in the services children rely on, including free school meals, transport and mental health
- Listen to children and make their rights the law
- Create a Fair Play Fund so that every child can take part
Cymraeg
RHAID I LYWODRAETH NESAF CYMRU WEITHREDU AR DLODI PLANT WRTH I FFIGYRAU NEWYDD DDATGELU BOD UN O BOB TRI PLENTYN YN DAL I GOLLI ALLAN AR BLENTYNDOD”
Wrth ymateb i’r ffigyrau tlodi plant sydd wedi eu cyhoeddi heddiw sy’n dangos bod cyfraddau tlodi plant yng Nghymru yn parhau i fod yn warthus, meddai Melanie Simmonds, Pennaeth Achub y Plant Cymru:
“Mae’r ffigurau hyn yn datgelu bod gormod o blant yng Nghymru – mwy nag un o bob tri – yn dal i brofi anghyfiawnder tlodi plant. Mae cyfradd tlodi plant yn uwch yng Nghymru nag yn unrhyw un o wledydd eraill y DU.
“Mae sicrhau plentyndod gobeithiol i dros 200,000 o blant bellach mewn perygl gwirioneddol gyda llawer yn colli allan ar y pethau sylfaenol bob dydd, gyda chost tymor hir hynny yn effeithio ar eu dyfodol nhw, dyfodol yr economi a’n bywydau ni i gyd.
“Mae hyn yn ein hatgoffa o bwysigrwydd buddsoddi yn nyfodol ein plant gyda phenderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i godi’r terfyn budd-dal dau blentyn yn mynd i dynnu 75,000 o blant allan o dlodi yng Nghymru erbyn diwedd senedd nesaf y DU.
“Nid yw tlodi plant yn anochel; mae’n ganlyniad dewisiadau. Mae’n hanfodol bod llywodraeth nesaf Cymru yn mynd i’r afael â phroblemau tlodi plant ac yn cynnig plentyndod gwell i bob plentyn. Mae rhoi mwy o arian ym mhocedi teuluoedd a chyflwyno Taliad Plant Cymru i wneud yn siŵr nad oes unrhyw blentyn yn mynd heb y pethau sylfaenol, yn un ffordd o wneud hyn gan balmentu’r ffordd i deuluoedd, ein cymdeithas a’n heconomi allu ffynnu.”
Nodiadau i Olygyddion
- Ffigrau newydd i'w canfod yma- Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2025 - GOV.UK
- Mae'r ffigur ar gyfer plant yng Nghymru yr effeithir arnynt gan y terfyn dau blentyn tua 75000 yn ôl ystadegau'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, Ebrill 2025 - Universal Credit claimants statistics on the two child limit policy, April 2025
- Darllenwch ein maniffesto Etholiad Senedd Cymru yma Listen to Us More: 2026 Senedd Election Manifesto