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Save the Children attacks child poverty figure Save the Children attacks child poverty figure
(about 7 hours later)
By Katherine Sellgren BBC News education reporterBy Katherine Sellgren BBC News education reporter
About 1.6m children in the UK are living in severe poverty, Save the Children says.About 1.6m children in the UK are living in severe poverty, Save the Children says.
The charity, which found the highest levels of child poverty in Manchester and Tower Hamlets, in London, said the figure was a "national scandal".The charity, which found the highest levels of child poverty in Manchester and Tower Hamlets, in London, said the figure was a "national scandal".
And it said more children would be tipped into poverty by public sector job losses and changes to benefits.And it said more children would be tipped into poverty by public sector job losses and changes to benefits.
The government said it was "fully committed to the goal of eradicating child poverty by 2020".The government said it was "fully committed to the goal of eradicating child poverty by 2020".
Of the UK nations, Save the Children found Wales had the highest proportion of children living in severe poverty (14%), followed by England (13%) then Scotland and Northern Ireland (9% each).Of the UK nations, Save the Children found Wales had the highest proportion of children living in severe poverty (14%), followed by England (13%) then Scotland and Northern Ireland (9% each).
It found 29 authorities across the UK had more than one in five children living in severe poverty.It found 29 authorities across the UK had more than one in five children living in severe poverty.
Manchester and the London borough of Tower Hamlets had the highest rates of children living in severe poverty at 27%.Manchester and the London borough of Tower Hamlets had the highest rates of children living in severe poverty at 27%.
The London borough of Newham had 25% in severe poverty, Leicester and Westminster (London) had 24%, Nottingham, Liverpool and Birmingham 23% and Blackpool and Hackney (London) 22%.The London borough of Newham had 25% in severe poverty, Leicester and Westminster (London) had 24%, Nottingham, Liverpool and Birmingham 23% and Blackpool and Hackney (London) 22%.
In Wales, the local authority with the highest rate of severe child poverty was Blaenau Gwent at 20%.In Wales, the local authority with the highest rate of severe child poverty was Blaenau Gwent at 20%.
In Scotland, Glasgow City had the highest rate of child poverty with 18% living in severe poverty.In Scotland, Glasgow City had the highest rate of child poverty with 18% living in severe poverty.
The charity based its regional breakdown of child poverty on statistics from the New Policy Institute.The charity based its regional breakdown of child poverty on statistics from the New Policy Institute.
It defines severe poverty as those living in households with incomes of less than 50% of the UK median income (disregarding housing costs).It defines severe poverty as those living in households with incomes of less than 50% of the UK median income (disregarding housing costs).
'Born without a chance''Born without a chance'
Sally Copley, Save the Children's head of UK policy, said: "Children up and down the country are going to sleep at night in homes with no heating, without eating a proper meal and without proper school uniforms to put on in the morning.Sally Copley, Save the Children's head of UK policy, said: "Children up and down the country are going to sleep at night in homes with no heating, without eating a proper meal and without proper school uniforms to put on in the morning.
"No child should be born without a chance. It is a national scandal that 1.6 million children are growing up in severe poverty."No child should be born without a chance. It is a national scandal that 1.6 million children are growing up in severe poverty.
"If these children are to have a future, we must acknowledge their desperate need and urgently target government help towards them.""If these children are to have a future, we must acknowledge their desperate need and urgently target government help towards them."
A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: "Over the last decade vast sums of money has been poured into the benefits system in an attempt to address poverty, this approach has failed.A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: "Over the last decade vast sums of money has been poured into the benefits system in an attempt to address poverty, this approach has failed.
"Our radical welfare reforms will benefit the poorest in society, helping 350,000 children out of poverty, and targeting support at those who need it most to make work pay and break the benefits trap."Our radical welfare reforms will benefit the poorest in society, helping 350,000 children out of poverty, and targeting support at those who need it most to make work pay and break the benefits trap.
"We know that work is the best route out of poverty.""We know that work is the best route out of poverty."


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  • class="dna-comment" id="comment_106691918"> class="comments_user_info secondary_body"> 20. Valerie
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Defining poverty is important, particularly as the answer often defines the help that poorer families are entitled to. My charity, the e-Learning Foundation, helps disadvantaged children get access to a computer and the Internet. A luxury? Not if richer kids are gaining a huge advantage by having good access. Poverty at its simplest is the nature of the gap between the haves and the have nots. Be the first to comment.
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    • I'm probably one of those parents whose kids live in severe poverty. I work part-time, not many full-time jobs fit in with being a single parent. My income from work has dropped every year for the past 4 years (roughly 30% drop in 3 years) as overtime becomes scarce. I work all available sundays, bank holidays etc but in the last year even the premium for working those has reduced.
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