Thousands of children in West Midlands 'trapped in poverty' despite working parents, says charity
Action for Children has found three in five children living in poverty in the region could be trapped in hardship.
New research suggests three in five children living in poverty in the West Midlands are being 'trapped in hardship' because their parents face barriers to work.
The charity Action for Children said 277,000 children are growing up in ‘work-constrained’ families across the region, according to government data between 2017 and 2022.
That’s 61% of the total number of the region’s 455,000 children living in relative poverty – which is classed as a household income of less than 60% of the average, after housing costs.
The research found the major barriers to work these families in the West Midlands faced included:
- already being in full-time work: around 54,000 children are in poverty despite one or both parents working full-time – including 31,000 children in couple families where both parents are in full-time work
- disability: a further 114,000 children are in poverty where there was at least one disabled parent, and an extra 31,000 children where at least one child was disabled
- caring responsibilities: an extra 60,000 children in poverty where there is at least one child under two; and another 18,000 children in single parent families in poverty where the parent is working part-time with a child aged two to 10.
Action for Children also found a large proportion of these families experienced multiple barriers, meaning they’re even less likely to be able to improve their income by taking on work.
Calls for action
Action for Children’s operational director in the West Midlands, Claire Cahill, said: "Our research shows we need to be honest about why so many children in our region are growing up poor and confront the myth that work alone is a passport out of poverty.
"In this election year, this is something all political parties must address. Further research is needed into the financial challenges facing these working families so we can find more targeted and effective solutions.
"This should be part of a wider programme of reform that strengthens the social security system and tackles the barriers to work and opportunity that are keeping families trapped in poverty."
Government support
Responding to today's Action for Children report, a Government spokesperson said: “There are 1.7 million fewer people living in absolute poverty compared to 2010, including 400,000 children, as we continue to support families with cost of living support worth on average £3,700 per household.
“Children are five times less likely to experience poverty living in a household where all adults work, compared to those in workless households, which is why this Government has reduced the number of workless households by almost 700,000 since 2010.
“We know work is the best route out of poverty which is why we have also raised the National Living Wage and are investing billions through our Back to Work Plan to break down barriers to work, while expanding our childcare offer and investing in children’s health programmes to make sure children get the best start in life.”